Listen free for 30 days
-
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
- The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Bill Gates
- Length: 7 hrs and 11 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wish list failed.
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy Now for $35.09
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Buy it with
-
How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
- Written by: Bill Gates
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Bill Gates
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over. But even as governments around the world try to get it under control, they’re also starting to talk about what happens next. How can we prevent another pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy? Can we even hope to accomplish this? Bill Gates believes the answer is yes, and he has written a largely upbeat book that lays out clearly and convincingly what the world should learn from COVID-19, explains the science of fighting pandemics, and suggests what all of us can do to help prevent another one.
-
-
Want to learn about preventing pandemics? Read this book.
- By Anonymous User on 2023-01-24
Written by: Bill Gates
-
Weather for Dummies (2nd Edition)
- Written by: John D. Cox
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Look up! When you look to the sky, do you wonder why the sun is so bright or why the clouds are white or why the sky is blue? Then Weather for Dummies is your resource to fuel your curiosity about the weather. It takes you on an exciting journey through the Earth's atmosphere and the ways it behaves. You'll get an overview of rain, sun, clouds, storms, and other phenomena.
Written by: John D. Cox
-
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals
- A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us
- Written by: Steve Brusatte
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Rise and Fall of the Mammals has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
-
-
Excellent Follow Up That Stands On It’s Own
- By Sebastian on 2022-07-12
Written by: Steve Brusatte
-
Numbers Don't Lie
- 71 Stories to Help Us Understand the Modern World
- Written by: Vaclav Smil
- Narrated by: Ben Prendergast
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Vaclav Smil's mission is to make facts matter. An environmental scientist, policy analyst, and a hugely prolific author, he is Bill Gates' go-to guy for making sense of our world. In Numbers Don't Lie, Smil answers questions such as: What's worse for the environment - your car or your phone? How much do the world's cows weigh (and what does it matter)? And what makes people happy?
-
-
It Helps To Understand Numbers
- By Anonymous User on 2023-03-03
Written by: Vaclav Smil
-
Values
- Building a Better World for All
- Written by: Mark Carney
- Narrated by: Mark Carney
- Length: 20 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A bold and urgent argument by economist and former bank governor Mark Carney on the radical, foundational change that is required if we are to build an economy and society based not on market values but on human values.
-
-
A Erudite Lexicon is Esoteric
- By Anonymous User on 2021-08-18
Written by: Mark Carney
-
How the World Really Works
- The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
- Written by: Vaclav Smil
- Narrated by: Stephen Perring
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We have never had so much information at our fingertips and yet most of us don’t know how the world really works. This book explains seven of the most fundamental realities governing our survival and prosperity. From energy and food production, through our material world and its globalization, to risks, our environment and its future, How the World Really Works offers a much-needed reality check—because before we can tackle problems effectively, we must understand the facts.
-
-
Great read.
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-07-04
Written by: Vaclav Smil
-
How to Prevent the Next Pandemic
- Written by: Bill Gates
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton, Bill Gates
- Length: 8 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over. But even as governments around the world try to get it under control, they’re also starting to talk about what happens next. How can we prevent another pandemic from killing millions of people and devastating the global economy? Can we even hope to accomplish this? Bill Gates believes the answer is yes, and he has written a largely upbeat book that lays out clearly and convincingly what the world should learn from COVID-19, explains the science of fighting pandemics, and suggests what all of us can do to help prevent another one.
-
-
Want to learn about preventing pandemics? Read this book.
- By Anonymous User on 2023-01-24
Written by: Bill Gates
-
Weather for Dummies (2nd Edition)
- Written by: John D. Cox
- Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
- Length: 14 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Look up! When you look to the sky, do you wonder why the sun is so bright or why the clouds are white or why the sky is blue? Then Weather for Dummies is your resource to fuel your curiosity about the weather. It takes you on an exciting journey through the Earth's atmosphere and the ways it behaves. You'll get an overview of rain, sun, clouds, storms, and other phenomena.
Written by: John D. Cox
-
The Rise and Reign of the Mammals
- A New History, from the Shadow of the Dinosaurs to Us
- Written by: Steve Brusatte
- Narrated by: Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 13 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Rise and Fall of the Mammals has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
-
-
Excellent Follow Up That Stands On It’s Own
- By Sebastian on 2022-07-12
Written by: Steve Brusatte
-
Numbers Don't Lie
- 71 Stories to Help Us Understand the Modern World
- Written by: Vaclav Smil
- Narrated by: Ben Prendergast
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Vaclav Smil's mission is to make facts matter. An environmental scientist, policy analyst, and a hugely prolific author, he is Bill Gates' go-to guy for making sense of our world. In Numbers Don't Lie, Smil answers questions such as: What's worse for the environment - your car or your phone? How much do the world's cows weigh (and what does it matter)? And what makes people happy?
-
-
It Helps To Understand Numbers
- By Anonymous User on 2023-03-03
Written by: Vaclav Smil
-
Values
- Building a Better World for All
- Written by: Mark Carney
- Narrated by: Mark Carney
- Length: 20 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A bold and urgent argument by economist and former bank governor Mark Carney on the radical, foundational change that is required if we are to build an economy and society based not on market values but on human values.
-
-
A Erudite Lexicon is Esoteric
- By Anonymous User on 2021-08-18
Written by: Mark Carney
-
How the World Really Works
- The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going
- Written by: Vaclav Smil
- Narrated by: Stephen Perring
- Length: 10 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We have never had so much information at our fingertips and yet most of us don’t know how the world really works. This book explains seven of the most fundamental realities governing our survival and prosperity. From energy and food production, through our material world and its globalization, to risks, our environment and its future, How the World Really Works offers a much-needed reality check—because before we can tackle problems effectively, we must understand the facts.
-
-
Great read.
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-07-04
Written by: Vaclav Smil
-
Life on Earth
- Written by: David Attenborough
- Narrated by: David Attenborough
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the book’s first publication, David Attenborough has revisited Life on Earth, completely updating and adding to the original text, taking account of modern scientific discoveries from around the globe....
-
-
A breath of Fresh Air for all of time
- By Anonymous User on 2021-02-18
Written by: David Attenborough
-
Emperor
- A New Life of Charles V
- Written by: Geoffrey Parker
- Narrated by: Nigel Patterson
- Length: 26 hrs and 24 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The life of Emperor Charles V (1500-1558), ruler of Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and much of Italy and Central and South America, has long intrigued biographers. But the elusive nature of the man (despite an abundance of documentation), his relentless travel and the control of his own image, together with the complexity of governing the world's first transatlantic empire, complicate the task.
Written by: Geoffrey Parker
-
The Power of Geography
- Ten Maps That Reveal the Future of Our World (Politics of Place)
- Written by: Tim Marshall
- Narrated by: Tim Marshall
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From the author of the New York Times best seller Prisoners of Geography, the highly anticipated follow-up that uses 10 maps of crucial regions around the globe to explain the geopolitical strategies of today’s world powers and what it means for our future.
Written by: Tim Marshall
-
The Price of Peace
- Money, Democracy, and the Life of John Maynard Keynes
- Written by: Zachary D. Carter
- Narrated by: Robert Petkoff
- Length: 22 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the dawn of World War I, a young academic named John Maynard Keynes hastily folded his long legs into the sidecar of his brother-in-law’s motorcycle for an odd, frantic journey that would change the course of history. Swept away from his placid home at Cambridge University by the currents of the conflict, Keynes found himself thrust into the halls of European treasuries to arrange emergency loans and packed off to America to negotiate the terms of economic combat.
-
-
Overall fine, some glaring holes
- By Amazon Customer on 2022-01-22
Written by: Zachary D. Carter
-
The Uninhabitable Earth
- Life After Warming
- Written by: David Wallace-Wells
- Narrated by: David Wallace-Wells
- Length: 9 hrs
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
An "epoch-defining book" (The Guardian) and "this generation’s Silent Spring" (The Washington Post), The Uninhabitable Earth is both a travelogue of the near future and a meditation on how that future will look to those living through it - the ways that warming promises to transform global politics, the meaning of technology and nature in the modern world, the sustainability of capitalism and the trajectory of human progress. The Uninhabitable Earth is also an impassioned call to action.
-
-
Author didn't get the No Future No Kids movement
- By Pouria on 2019-10-22
Written by: David Wallace-Wells
-
The Hydrogen Revolution
- A Blueprint for the Future of Clean Energy
- Written by: Marco Alverà
- Narrated by: Matthew Spencer
- Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
We’re constantly told that our planet is in crisis; that to save it, we must stop traveling, stop eating meat, even stop having children. But in The Hydrogen Revolution, Marco Alverà argues that we don’t need to upend our lives. We just need a new kind of fuel: hydrogen.
-
-
Reads a bit like a sales pitch
- By Amazon Customer on 2023-02-19
Written by: Marco Alverà
-
Mastering the Market Cycle
- Getting the Odds on Your Side
- Written by: Howard Marks
- Narrated by: LJ Ganser, Howard Marks
- Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The legendary investor shows how to identify and master the cycles that govern the markets. We all know markets rise and fall, but when should you pull out, and when should you stay in? The answer is never black or white, but is best reached through a keen understanding of the reasons behind the rhythm of cycles. Confidence about where we are in a cycle comes when you learn the patterns of ups and downs that influence not just economics, markets and companies, but also human psychology and the investing behaviors that result.
-
-
Good review on market cycles...
- By Randy charko on 2019-02-14
Written by: Howard Marks
-
Titan
- The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
- Written by: Ron Chernow
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 35 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Titan is the first full-length biography based on unrestricted access to Rockefeller’s exceptionally rich trove of papers. A landmark publication full of startling revelations, the book indelibly alters our image of this most enigmatic capitalist. Born the son of a flamboyant, bigamous snake-oil salesman and a pious, straitlaced mother, Rockefeller rose from rustic origins to become the world’s richest man by creating America’s most powerful and feared monopoly, Standard Oil. Branded "the Octopus" by legions of muckrakers, the trust refined and marketed nearly 90 percent of the oil produced in America.
-
-
Thouroughly enjoyed every minute!!
- By Andrea on 2020-01-30
Written by: Ron Chernow
-
Integrity
- The Courage to Meet the Demands of Reality
- Written by: Henry Cloud
- Narrated by: Henry Cloud
- Length: 5 hrs and 14 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Integrity. It is more than simple honesty. It's the key to success. A person with integrity has the, often rare, ability to pull everything together, to make it all happen no matter how challenging the circumstances.
-
-
Why missing paragraphs?
- By Tom J. on 2023-02-17
Written by: Henry Cloud
-
All Against All
- The Long Winter of 1933 and the Origins of the Second World War
- Written by: Paul Jankowski
- Narrated by: Dean Gallagher
- Length: 16 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
All Against All is the story of the season our world changed from postwar to prewar again. It is about the power of bad ideas - exploring why, during a single winter, between November 1932 and April 1933, so much went so wrong. Historian Paul Jankowski reveals that it was collective mentalities and popular beliefs that drove this crucial period that sent nations on the path to war, as much as any rational calculus called "national interest".
Written by: Paul Jankowski
-
Business @ the Speed of Thought
- Using a Digital Nervous System
- Written by: Bill Gates, Collins Hemingway
- Narrated by: Jonathan Mayrose
- Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Gates' Business @ the Speed of Thought is one of audible.com's most popular programs. This is one investment that will pay consistent dividends. Download it for your commute.
Written by: Bill Gates, and others
-
SPQR
- A History of Ancient Rome
- Written by: Mary Beard
- Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
- Length: 18 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In SPQR, world-renowned classicist Mary Beard narrates the unprecedented rise of a civilization that even 2,000 years later still shapes many of our most fundamental assumptions about power, citizenship, responsibility, political violence, empire, luxury, and beauty.
-
-
watch her on tv
- By Mackenzie on 2019-07-12
Written by: Mary Beard
Publisher's Summary
In this urgent, authoritative book, Bill Gates sets out a wide-ranging, practical - and accessible - plan for how the world can get to zero greenhouse gas emissions in time to avoid a climate catastrophe.
Bill Gates has spent a decade investigating the causes and effects of climate change. With the help of experts in the fields of physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, political science, and finance, he has focused on what must be done in order to stop the planet's slide to certain environmental disaster. In this book, he not only explains why we need to work toward net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, but also details what we need to do to achieve this profoundly important goal.
He gives us a clear-eyed description of the challenges we face. Drawing on his understanding of innovation and what it takes to get new ideas into the market, he describes the areas in which technology is already helping to reduce emissions, where and how the current technology can be made to function more effectively, where breakthrough technologies are needed, and who is working on these essential innovations. Finally, he lays out a concrete, practical plan for achieving the goal of zero emissions - suggesting not only policies that governments should adopt, but what we as individuals can do to keep our government, our employers, and ourselves accountable in this crucial enterprise.
As Bill Gates makes clear, achieving zero emissions will not be simple or easy to do, but if we follow the plan he sets out here, it is a goal firmly within our reach.
This audiobook includes a downloadable PDF of charts, graphs, and pictures from the book.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
What the critics say
"Gates gathers advice from experts while laying out his vision for technological innovations that could reduce greenhouse gases and stop the warming of the planet. If even some of his plans work, this might be the most important book of the year.” —CNN
“One of the most accessible, practical, and interesting books on the topic to emerge since Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth.” —Oprah Daily
“The most comprehensible explanation for what’s driving our warming planet; how to measure the impact of the myriad contributions to this staggering and seemingly incalculable problem; and ultimately how to go about finding more effective approaches to each of them. It’s the closest thing I’ve seen to a how-to guide for addressing the climate crisis.” —Clinton Leaf, Fortune
More from the same
What listeners say about How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- SB The Student
- 2021-02-21
Who's this for?
I strongly doubt you're the target audience.
you won't have much of a say in what is required or suggested in this book. Great info on what is required if you just want to consume some knowledge....but even that gets boring quick considering the level of content the context in which it is presented.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
12 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Alex MacAulay
- 2021-03-01
Adds much needed detail to the practical discussion on how we can get to zero
Already knowing a lot about the science of climate change and the technical, economic and societal challenges to addressing it I’m keenly interested in what we can most practically do to move the needle in the short term and set ourselves up for success by 2050.
This is exactly what I found in Bill Gates book. I found the simple “green premium” concept useful and broadly applicable in framing what types of actions are needed for each class of emissions and especially enjoyed the discussion around how to get technology, governments and markets working together.
I zipped through the audiobook in less than a week on daily walks and am looking forward to using the PDF as a resource moving forward!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Anonymous User
- 2021-02-24
worth the time and money
Excellently done! Will Wheaton's delivery is flawless and Bill Gates words so clearly explain the ins and outs of a very complex problem and what could and should be done and by whom. This book should be sent to your government representatives with a note asking them to read it and then give a copy to someone else in business or government.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Global3xchange
- 2021-02-16
Thank you for this deep insight on Global Warming.
Thank you so much for sharing this useful data! Greatly appreciated, LOVE the 2 questions mentioned in the end of Chapter 8.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Noah Graham
- 2021-08-01
suggestion
Bill gates should have made an app to pause his book whenever you say "shut up Wesely"
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- An Informed Shopper
- 2021-03-30
Down to Earth
An excellently narrated explanation of the issues and actions that are needed to help is all.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Andriy Makukha
- 2023-06-01
Must read for politicians
Great book for anyone concerned with the climate (and everyone should be!). It's a must read for policy makers. However, I disliked the performance. The accent is too American and too different from the author.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tim Newkirk
- 2023-03-06
Amazing Read
I have been looking for a breakdown of the science behind our new climate. Gates breaks it down in a detailed yet entertaining way. I am
Not a scientist but understood what was going on.
Excellent read by Will Wheaton as well. A must listen.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Tetsu
- 2022-10-02
Truly great listen!
This book was fantastic! Not only was it extremely informational and very easy to follow, but it also allows for a deeper understanding of the issue at hand and the true work it will require for all of us to make progress. Also, Will Wheaton's performance was great. A VERY good narrator!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Ben
- 2022-06-04
not worth the credit/$$$
No new information than what mainstream media presents. if anyone was actually concerned with climate change there would be way more emphasis on nuclear power.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Axel Merk
- 2021-02-20
Be curious, not furious
Gates deserves credit for aiming to reach a broad audience to further the goal of mitigating a climate disaster. He's the first to point out he's an imperfect messenger; with one petty exception that I'll discuss below, I kept an open mind. I appreciated Gates' insights and learned a few things. That said, such a vast undertaking in an easy to read book is bound to have shortcomings; Gates urges us to focus more on the positives, realizing he can't make everyone happy. So let me try to phrase my criticism below constructively. Before I head into the criticism, Wheaton does a great job reading the book. Also, the book is inspiring - which I gather is the whole point of it. Personally, as I was listening, I had an idea that could be useful in advancing the cause, if only by a tiny bit, and be reasonably easy to implement; I'll mention it at the end. If others are inspired and take on tasks, small and large, the book was worth writing.
While Gates had a small business startup that serves small business, he quickly grew it into a big business. His foundation interacts with governments. While that is helpful in understanding complexities on a global level, we must make sure we don't lose sight of the needs of small business if we want his policy ideas to work. He proposes an array of policies and incentives. We must remember that red tape - which is the ugly cousin of policy - increases not only cost, but also barrier to entry, it stifles innovation. The US has a more dynamic economy than Europe because it is less regulated. The shale revolution that lead the US to energy independence came about because of it; you may think shale is part of the problem, and to an extent it is, but Gates rightfully points out that some of the technologies developed for it may well be part of the solution. I'm not arguing we don't need government policy. But what we need is to have as many stakeholders as possible on the table. When Gates proposes labeling of goods according to the carbon footprint, we all get that in theory this may be a very helpful stepping stone. But how do we implement that without driving smaller suppliers out of business?
Gates mentions a carbon tax and/or cap and trade as a crucial part of providing "incentives". The theory of this clear: tax carbons, provide incentives to get fewer of them. Gates almost entirely sidesteps the political dimension of this, presumably in part because, well, he doesn't want to be too political. But we must tackle the political dimension if this isn't supposed to be yet another book that will make those agreeing with Gates feel good, but have rather limited impact. It is crucial to build broad/bipartisan support on any policy for many reasons Gates references, but he leaves it up to the reader to connect the dots: If policy is passed, who stops the next government to reverse it? In an age of hyper-partisanship it's not easy. A carbon tax is one of the few ways government can raise large amounts of money; understandably, those opposing it suggest it gives government a license to spend, to build ever larger governments. Even if you don't agree to this, that's how many people think. We must square this circle; if we can, many of the other challenges presented in the book become solvable. That's because an economy adjusts to "incentives" and the moment you start taxing carbon, people will find ways to use less of it; the less you micro-manage it, the more innovation will strive. Alas, the taxing part is a huge deal.
Gates mentions international trade agreements may need to be renegotiated if we want to make sure stuff we import is also to some sort of "incentive" (carbon penalty) to be less carbon intensive. Anyone who has followed trade negotiations knows these are complex topics. I wish Gates had spent a little more time on this subject. I don't recall him mentioning once that the very foundation of trade, WTO, needs to be rethought. If the US were to impose import tariffs based on carbon, it would likely violate WTO rules; retaliatory tariffs would be imposed, everyone loses (unless one has the attitude that less trade is better; for purposes of this review, let's agree with Gates' premise that global growth is a good thing, we need to figure out how to do this without wrecking the planet). Gates sounds almost Trumpian by suggesting if you want to trade with us, you've got to play by our rules on carbon; it may need someone like a green Trump to break and rebuild the WTO. Try to square that circle with the aforementioned call for bipartisanship. Trade is immensely important.
Let me wrap this up by mentioning a personal idea - not in the belief that this will solve the climate crisis, but if everyone is motivated to share an idea, it increases the odds really good ones make it to the market: let's encourage weather apps to not only show sun, clouds, rain, wind, but also metrics on the carbon footprint of energy consumption for the local community based on time of day. I'm writing this from California where energy used during peak hours turns from green to brown. Most in California have heard calls to take this into account when they run an appliance, but if this was available on your favorite weather app, I would think there would not only be greater awareness, but usage patterns would also change. Companies like Google should be able to estimate such data already based on a variety of sources, then re-publish them in a standard format, so that apps can tap into them. If the idea takes off, there can be push to provide more standardized data by utility companies, making the data a firm like Google republishes more accurate/meaningful. And once an API is built, this isn't just useful for consumers on their weather app, but can help industrial use. In addition to consumers, many businesses pay electricity rates based on time of day. There's really little reason why this can't be more refined - I'm not suggesting different pricing based on each minute of the day, but if businesses had access to an API that suggested when exactly the energy is greenest, they can adjust their usage. Not all businesses, of course. My personal experience is with a well pump that feeds water into storage tanks; the water is used to irrigate agricultural land. The pump used to run whenever the water tank level fell below a threshold. A while ago, I added a $5 chip with simple programming; the pump now gives priority to the off hours, unless water tank levels fall below a certain threshold (okay, that sensor was more than $5); it would be simple enough to tap into an API that prioritizes based on how green the energy is off the grid. Such approaches have further benefits; in my example, because we added sensors, we learned about water leaks at times weeks earlier than we would have otherwise, further saving not just water, but the need to run the water pump. I mention this example not because I think my 15hp water pump will save the planet, but to illustrate that simple ideas could have a wide range of applications, and those add up.
I gave this review the title 'be curious, not furious' because a undertaking such as Gates' gives plenty of reasons to disagree with specifics - I have several as I read the book. However, I agree with Gates that we should focus on where we agree, and find ways to execute those ideas.
p.s.: as mentioned in the beginning, I can't help but raise one criticism; in the introduction, Gates references that we might have to limit access to power to only essential services during an emergency. The reference to 'essential' in my humble opinion is unfortunate. He likely wrote it before covid. I couldn't help but cringe, as it suggests Gates may not be able to relate to the tremendous hardship imposed on so many during the pandemic as they weren't considered essential workers. I trust Gates meant well, but as the pandemic showed, who and what is essential is in the eye of politicians that appear to rule on an ad hoc basis rather than a well thought out master plan in which many stakeholders were on the table.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
45 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Blake Jones
- 2021-02-18
Climate Effects
Intrigued at the beginning, bored at some parts. Best explanation of climate problem, and most concise and effective explanation of possible solutions. I love how mostly realistic Bill Gates is in explaining climate change - I appreciate how open and transparent he is. He gets at the center of it and doesn't try to scare. I don't think the climate disaster is a one time event like it sounds, rather a boxing match that lasts the entire time but ending in a KO unless the right innovative solutions are found.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
25 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Saiomshan
- 2021-02-17
51 billion, Zero and 30 years
These three numbers defined the problem space concisely and this really resonated with me. I am going to recommend this book to all my friends.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
14 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mina
- 2021-02-17
Great Book
In his new book How To Avoid A Climate Disaster Bill Gates made this climate thing really easy to understand, no jargons and most importantly you will know exactly what you need to do to make an impact and avoid the disaster.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
13 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- J Kuo
- 2021-02-20
Essential, Optimistic, and Ambitious
Deeply appreciated this work. I love how Bill Gates engaged the issue of climate change from first principles, driving an understanding that we need to get to zero to avoid worst case scenarios. He then identified what we need to and can do to get there. I hope, pray, and will do my small part to help us get to zero, and recommend this book to anyone who has the courage, conscience, and character to invest in a future for humanity.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
11 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Sasha
- 2021-02-19
Excellent book - Easy to understand
This is a fantastic audiobook.
When I initially got it I was worried that it would be complicated or very dry. It is the complete opposite! It's easy to understand and explained in very human terms. This is NOT some rich guy telling us all to be vegan and wear bamboo fabric clothes.
Bill Gates lays out the current issues very clearly and offers current solutions and areas we need to focus on.
Wil Wheaton does an excellent job with the narration too. My 11 year old son has been listening to it too, and he is understanding it.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Aaron R. Isaacson
- 2021-02-17
good and timely advice for our planet
I recomend all policy makers (private sector and public sector) read or listen to this book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
8 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Adam Gonyea
- 2021-02-18
A must read.... Immediately
This books is very clear cut, educational, and inspirational. I was losing hope that climate change would ever be addressed but this book has gave me a new hope .this book very good job at covering climate change head to toe in a way everyone can understand and provides glimpses into what is already being done. Well worth the money.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
7 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Tommy Samartino
- 2021-02-18
GREAT BOOK
Bill Gates is one heck of a thinker. We should all make the climate zero because of the steel and for concrete. We have to do this…
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
6 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- P. Hutcheson
- 2021-02-18
Knowledgable but still learned something
I have been closely following climate Change for over ten years but I still learned things. Now I know better know what to look for in this important but complex issue.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- E. Bengtson
- 2021-08-09
360 degrees wake up call
This book is a problem statement on human activity affecting climate change. Beyond a problem statement, it also provide clues to reduce human impact while increasing poor countries wealth.
Honestly this book does not bring much hope, and the trend is clear moving to a disaster.
The PDF included is almost unreadable. Too bad for a digital book.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 2021-04-03
aux armes citoyens : objectif zéro carbon
un objectif unique de transformation pour tout les peuples : le zero carbone emission. Une montagne à gravir avec des solutions existantes et beaucoups restants à créer. ce livre est a offrir à tous les dirigeants de ce monde ecrit par un autre grand dirigeant.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!