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Our current reliance on fossil fuels is unsustainable and harmful to the planet, and we need to change the way we produce and consume energy. Although the change is happening, it’s been slow. Also, it’s essential new energy solutions become cheaper, more reliable and more efficient every day for adoption at scale.

With COP28 beginning this week, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, expects positive action on affordable clean energy to come from the climate meet in Dubai.

He will be attending the UN climate summit in Dubai, and will share his insights on avoiding climate disasters as well as improving people’s livelihoods.

“Our focus at COP28 in Dubai should be on innovating for the most vulnerable, making clean energy more accessible, and fighting disease and poverty. I’m eager to discuss how we can avoid a climate disaster and improve life for people now and in the future,” wrote Gates on his blog.

At COP28, Gates will discuss the need to fund more innovations that aim to reduce carbon emissions and make clean energy affordable for all. 

“Scaling up solar and wind power as they get cheaper is a clear solution. Also, companies are working on next-generation nuclear power that is much cheaper, safer and produces less waste.”  

“We’re not hitting all the near-term targets for reducing emissions, and that’s definitely concerning. But what I see with innovators all over the world, they’ve got solutions that will let us bring emissions down dramatically,” Gates said.