Bill Gates caused a climate meltdown

Open Circuit

After Bill Gates dropped a new climate manifesto, the internet did what it always does: lost its mind. Conservatives claimed victory, progressives accused him of selling out, and somewhere in the middle was a real debate about how the energy transition actually happens.

This week, in our episode recorded live at Greentown Labs, we’re jumping into the fray. What does the debate say about the state of climate tech in 2025?

We’ll start with a look at the debate over Bill Gates’ latest letter on climate impacts, philanthropy, and tech progress. Why does he obsess over innovation while ignoring the systems that help solutions scale?

Then we turn to the so-called “new normal” for climate tech capital. Venture investment is thawing, public markets have rebounded, and infrastructure money is pouring into the sector. What does that mean for startups?

Finally, we end with a little thought experiment about what history will remember us for.

Open Circuit is brought to you by Natural Power. Natural Power specializes in renewable energy consulting and engineering, supporting wind, solar, and battery storage projects from concept through financing. Discover how we're creating a world powered by renewable energy at naturalpower.com.

With resilience now a leading driver of grid investments, Latitude Media and The Ad Hoc Group are hosting the Power Resilience Forum in Houston, Texas on January 21-23, 2026. Utilities, regulators, innovators, and investors will all be in the room — talking about how to keep the grid running in this new era of heatwaves, wildfires, and storms. Register today here!