Adrian Macey: Victoria University adjunct professor of climate change on Bill Gates' cautionary comments on climate change

Billionaire Bill Gates is shifting his tone on climate change, cautioning against a 'doomsday' future view. 

In a lengthy online memo, the Microsoft co-founder says he still believes it is a major problem needing solving.

But Gates says innovation and breakthroughs shouldn't come at the expense of funding global health or development. 

Victoria University adjunct professor of climate change, Adrian Macey, says he agrees.

"I see what he's saying is - don't assume it's going to be Armageddon if we sail past the 1.5 degrees, which we have already, but think about the positive things you need to do."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now. Bill Gates has today shocked some by pushing back
at climate change doomsayers in quite spectacular fashion. He's released
an essay arguing that we worry too much about climate change,
we should instead focus on more urgent things like fixing hunger.
He says climate change will not lead to humanity's demise,
poverty and disease are a bigger threat. Adrian Macy is
Victoria University's adjunct professor Professor of Climate Change and with.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Us Hi Adrian Gofdean Heatherer.

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Is he right in saying it will not wipe out humanity?

Speaker 2 (00:30):
Well? Interesting that the new head of the head of
the IPC sing and that's that science of the body
that looks at the science and advises the world. Jim Scare.
One of the first things that he said when he
came into the position was, look, it's not it's not
the end of humanity. You know, if there's more degrees
of warming then we're planning for. But I would say
that Gates is not saying, so let's stop, let's stop

(00:52):
worrying about climate change per se. If you look at
if you look at what he's been doing, He's put
huge amounts of money into really positive stuff, no energy
transfer stuff in developing country, and he's still arguing for that.
But I think what his message is, to my mind
quite a come to me, quite quite a reality check
of these cops. I mean, we have this thing every

(01:14):
year now, where as we go go towards the end
of the year, we have everyone saying, look, things are
far worse, and we thought we're missing all that targets,
this is the very last chance to save the planet.
We send up to one hundred thousand people somewhere in
the world for two weeks who then fail to save
the planet. I mean, this year, we're having it in
this huge gathering, massive expense, in the middle of the

(01:36):
Amazon rainforest. I mean, to me, it's something of an absurdity.
So I'm rather on Bill Gate's side here. But definitely
he's not saying don't worry about climate No, I.

Speaker 1 (01:45):
Don't know, he's not Adrian, He's no one saying he's
saying that. He's saying. He's not saying don't worry about
climate change. He's saying, be proportionate in your worry about
climate change. Is he right that we've been disproportionate.

Speaker 2 (01:57):
I think what we've done well I would be with
on one thing, this this total focus on targets and timetables,
which is all about you go along to a cop
and you say, well, we're going to do x percent
by a year. Why the big question is what are
you doing now? How are you trans what are you
doing to transition your economy, renewable energy? What are you

(02:18):
doing on agriculture? And that that's that's the thing. And
I see what he's saying is, yes, have a bit
more of a don't don't assume it's going to be armaged.
And if we sail past the one point five degrees,
which we have already, but think about the positive things
that you need to do. So I think it's a
pretty to my mind, a pretty practical message.

Speaker 1 (02:37):
Tell me something, Adriana, what is your your take on
on what appears to be the Overton windows shifting on
climate change? Do you know what I mean?

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, if you yeah, then the messages are coming in
pretty consistently. I mean, you've got, of course, the big thing.
When you've got the world's biggest economy pulls out of
the Powis Agreement, we're really what we at the moment,
who's the terming future of temperatures more like China and
developing countries. But you're finding this message, even which they're
having difficulties within Europe at the moment getting agreement on

(03:10):
these are more ambitious targets, and I think there is
a if you like her to go to some of
the Maslow hierarchy of needs. You've got cost of living
crises and you've got wars everywhere, slide exaggeration, but you
these these things are taking that there and people's consciousness more.
I think climate changes slip down a little in people's consciousness.

(03:31):
So yeah, that's that's a fair point.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
Adrian, It's always a pleasure to talk to you. Thank
you for your time.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Mate.

Speaker 1 (03:36):
That's Adrian Macy, who is an adjunct professor of climate
change at Victoria University. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive,
listen live to news talks. It'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.