Bill Gates $70 million Gulfstream N887WM at Sydney’s Kingsford Smith on Australia visit

Tech billionaire Bill Gates zips around Australia in his $70 million private jet while preaching about the dangers of climate change that will only get worse over time.

The Microsoft founder and the world’s fourth-richest person is in Australia with representatives from his company Breakthrough Energy, which claims to drive innovation in sustainable energy and technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Gates relaxed on Lizard Island in Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef before flying the Gulfstream jet, one of two he owns, to Sydney on Saturday for a meeting with Anthony Albanese.

His $70 million Gulfstream, which was spotted on the Kingsford Smith tarmac as he made his way to the Australian Prime Minister’s official residence, Kirribilli House, to speak on climate change and energy challenges, is outfitted with some of the equipment most high-tech of any private jet on the planet.

Gates also addressed the Lowy Institute think tank in Sydney on Monday to share his views on global issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the environment.

“Climate change does not yet have the negative effects of a disease like malaria, which kills 400,000 children a year,” Gates told attendees.

“The reason climate change is worth investing massively in is because it will get worse and worse over time.”

“If you allow warming to get to an extreme level, all kinds of natural ecosystems will disappear and in all kinds of places in the world you can’t work outdoors.”

“So in tropical areas agriculture would be impossible, working outdoors for much of the year would be impossible.”

Gates believes there is “no chance” of limiting warming to the Paris climate target of 1.5°C, while a 2°C target is also “highly unlikely”.

“The key is to minimize heating as much as possible,” Gates said.

“At this point, staying below 2.5°C would be fantastic. I think that is possible.

He added that it was “great to have Australia on board for the weather” after the country had been “an outlier until very recently”.

He believes that the US and Australian policies towards China require a more conciliatory and cooperative political approach to addressing climate change.

“I see the rise of China as a great victory for the world … the current mentality in the United States towards China, and that is reciprocated, is kind of a lose-lose mentality,” Gates said.

“That could be very self-fulfilling in a very negative way.”

Gates will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday for the final five days of the Australian Open tennis grand slam.

Gates owns four private planes, which has drawn criticism from his supporters.

The private jet collection is reportedly worth $194 million and includes two Gulfstream G650ERs worth $70 million each and can carry up to 18 passengers.

In his 2021 book titled Avoiding Weather Disasters, Gates admitted to being an “imperfect messenger” as he lives in big houses and travels on a private plane.

“I am aware that I am an imperfect messenger on climate change,” he wrote.

“The world isn’t exactly short of rich men with great ideas about what other people should do, or who think technology can solve any problem.”

And I have big houses and I fly in private planes; I actually took one to Paris for the climate conference, so who am I to lecture on the environment?

I plead guilty to all three charges. I can’t deny that I’m a rich guy with an opinion. I believe, however, that it is an informed opinion, and I am always trying to learn more.’