Bill Gates talks at the TED conference on the need to reduce to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Gates identifies population, energy services, efficiency and the carbon intensity of energy generation as the factors determining future carbon dioxide. Population growth and increasing demand for energy services will drive up GHG emissions. Energy efficiency will help reduce emissions, but Gates identifies the need to switch to zero-emission energy generation as the key need.
Gates identifies five technologies as the best prospects to be "Energy Miracles" to achieve this aim - carbon capture and storage, nuclear power, wind turbines, solar voltaic and solar thermal. Gates identifies challenges for each technology, and points out areas where he thinks innovation can help address those challenges. For more information on some of the issues that Gates raises please see WNA's Information Papers on Economics of Nuclear Power, Safety of Nuclear Power Reactors, Radioactive Wastes - Myths and Realities, Renewable Energy and Electricity and 'Clean Coal' Technologies.