Billionaire Bill Gates doubled down on his efforts to combat climate change despite flying around in a private jet.
BBC’s Amol Rajan asked Gates during an interview, “What do you say to the charge that if you are a climate change campaigner, but you also travel around the world in a private jet, you’re a hypocrite?”
Gates replied, “Well, I buy the gold standard of funding Climeworks to do direct air capture that far exceeds my family’s carbon footprint.”
He added, “I spend billions of dollars on climate innovation. So, you know, should I stay at home and not come to Kenya and learn about farming and malaria — Anyway. I mean, I’m comfortable with the idea that not only am I not part of the problem — by paying for the offsets, but also through the billions that my Breakthrough Energy group is spending, that I’m part of the solution.”
Watch his comments below:
NEW: A BBC reporter asked Bill Gates directly why his climate activism should be taken seriously, as he continues to fly private all over the world:
— Will Hild (@WillHild) February 7, 2023
Gates tried to assure the reporter that, despite his private jet usage, he is not part of the problem, he’s part of the solution. pic.twitter.com/U6f8Ymcp4l
He received significant criticism on Twitter following his remarks.
One user responded, writing, “He’s part of the solution all right, assuming the solution is depopulation.”
He’s part of the solution all right, assuming the solution is depopulation. https://t.co/EMh1WYMdZ0
— Ian Prittie (@thereds8) February 9, 2023
Video producer Sean Fitzgerald suggested it is “funny that he frames this as private jet or just stay home. He wouldn’t even consider flying with you disgusting plebs commercially, even in first class. Also carbon offsets are the new church’s sin indulgence.”
It's funny that he frames this as private jet or just stay home. He wouldn't even consider flying with you disgusting plebs commercially, even in first class. Also carbon offsets are the new church's sin indulgence https://t.co/gicNztlggc
— Sean Fitzgerald (Actual Justice Warrior) (@IamSean90) February 8, 2023
Writer Theo Fleury said Gates has “zero ability to self reflect. Egomaniac. He thinks he’s untouchable and should never be held to account.”
This guy has zero ability to self reflect. Egomaniac. He thinks he’s untouchable and should never be held to account. https://t.co/ikaKThTrpn
— Theo Fleury (@TheoFleury14) February 8, 2023
Columnist Grace Curley wrote, “Translation for his bs response… ‘I’m a hypocrite.'”
Translation for his bs response… “I’m a hypocrite.” https://t.co/YItMn0xi9W
— Grace Curley (@G_CURLEY) February 8, 2023
Read more responses below:
Can people wake up now? https://t.co/dxsLRiSqmQ
— Robin Monotti (@robinmonotti) February 8, 2023
He says he’s too important to NOT fly in a private jet. https://t.co/osb5YwlxUi
— Ezra Levant 🍁🚛 (@ezralevant) February 8, 2023
this is good lol https://t.co/Ta4ZC2gyV9
— BLZ Capital (@BLZcapital) February 8, 2023
I’ve always been kind of meh about Bill Gates but this clip just makes me hate this man. https://t.co/MVkbFikfYf
— Carlos (@txiokatu) February 8, 2023
😂 You can’t make this shit up! https://t.co/ZscxXlB5qt
— Morally Grey Wolf🐺🇺🇸 (@MGWolf2020) February 8, 2023
Additionally, during the interview, Gates explained how developed nations can reduce emissions.
“What the rich countries owe to the entire world is that they need to get their emissions down to zero as fast as they can,” he said.
Gates added, “But that’s not enough because they, you know, they have so … much in the way of resources.”
The billionaire suggested they “also need to invent new approaches so that the cost of being green, the cost of not having emissions in all areas, gets down to be zero.”