Bill Gates says there are 5 'grand challenges' to stopping an apocalyptic future of floods, hurricanes, and drought

pulse

October 18, 2018 3:02 PM

Renewable energy sources aren't enough to eliminate the harmful effects of climate change, Bill Gates wrote in a recent blog post. To prevent climate-related disasters such as floods, drought, and extreme temperatures, the world must focus on five "grand challenges," Gates said.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, speaks at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York City, U.S., September 20, 2017.

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Bill Gates has a message for those worried about climate-related disasters like hurricanes, droughts, flooding, and extreme temperatures: No solution works on its own.

In a recent blog post, Gates refuted the idea that renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines hold the key to saving our planet.

" "we need breakthroughs in how we make things, grow food, and move people and goods — not just how we power our homes and cars."

That's a lofty goal — especially in light of a recent report from the

Electricity

Electricity BusinessInsider

Electricity is the largest single source of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, producing about a quarter of the global total. But 75% of

Agriculture

Agriculture BusinessInsider

Between farming and deforestation, agriculture is responsible for around 24%

In October, Gates and a cohort of billionaires invested millions in a genetically modified bacteria that could mitigate this problem.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing BusinessInsider

The manufacturing industry is close behind in terms of emissions, producing around 21% of the global total.

When fossil fuels are burned to create things like steel or cement, they

Transportation

Transportation BusinessInsider

The fourth challenge, transportation, contributes another 14% to global emissions.

While plenty of attention has been given to low-emission cars, burning fossil fuels for other forms of transportation such as airplanes, trucks, and cargo ships has even more damaging effects.

The shipping industry alone produces about as much greenhouse gas as

Buildings

Buildings BusinessInsider

While buildings represent just 6% of global emissions, this number is likely to skyrocket as more people move to cities and demand additional building stock.

Within buildings, everyday fixtures such as

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