Washington, August 8 (HS): Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has hailed the record-breaking $2.2 trillion investment in clean energy during 2025 as the beginning of a “clean industrial revolution.” Citing data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Gates expressed optimism about the future, emphasizing that such large-scale investments signal a major shift in how the world addresses climate and energy challenges.

In a post on his blog GatesNotes, Gates wrote that he has been working on energy innovation since 2008, believing it can significantly improve lives worldwide. He added that universal access to clean, affordable, and reliable energy could lead to a healthier and more prosperous world.

Gates is advancing these efforts through Breakthrough Energy, a venture fund he launched in 2015 to support scalable clean energy technologies. He stressed the importance of increased private sector investment and global collaboration to accelerate clean energy adoption and meet net-zero targets by 2050.

He also noted that global warming poses rising threats of poverty and disease, making it essential to help communities adapt. Through the Gates Foundation, projects are underway to improve healthcare in the poorest nations and develop climate-resilient crops and livestock.

India, too, is emerging as a key player in the clean energy landscape. The country is now the world’s third-largest solar power producer, having increased its capacity 32-fold. Its non-fossil fuel energy capacity has tripled, while it aims to achieve 20% ethanol blending in fuel by October.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar