I've been working on energy innovation since 2008 because I believe it will help make lives better around the world. Developing new sources of clean energy allows us to both improve human welfare today and protect the planet for future generations.

I recently published a Gates Notes post, “Three Tough Truths About Climate,” where I argue that we need to make improving human welfare the top priority of our energy and climate efforts. That may seem obvious—who’s against improving human welfare?—but the world doesn’t always act that way.

Although limiting the global temperature is hugely beneficial, the belief that we need to do so at all costs is diverting resources from the most effective things we could be doing to improve human welfare in poor countries: namely, making it affordable to eliminate all greenhouse gas emissions and reducing extreme poverty with improvements in agriculture and health. The best way to help people adapt to climate change is to make sure they’re healthy and prosperous.

When everyone has access to affordable, reliable clean energy, the world will be more prosperous and more resilient to climate change. Through Breakthrough Energy, I fund work on innovations that will help us make that transformation.

I also fund work through the Gates Foundation to help people in the world’s poorest countries thrive when the twin threats of poverty and disease are exacerbated by rising temperatures. Our partners are helping to improve baseline health, as well as working on things like new varieties of crops and livestock that can flourish in a warmer world.