John Braun commentary: Clarity on climate policy cost comes too late for our state

I have spoken many times about the importance of giving people a second chance to get on a better path. It usually comes up when the topic is our state’s management of juvenile offenders. I never had a reason to consider whether that should also extend to billionaires.

Then in late October, Bill Gates — the Seattle-area resident and Microsoft co-founder who is still among the wealthiest people in the world — let it be known that he had changed his views on climate policy.

His revelation was self-published under the title of “Three tough truths about climate.” It was aimed at those attending this year’s annual United Nations-sponsored climate change conference, which began Nov. 10 in Brazil.

Gates’ memo opens by describing what he calls a “doomsday view of climate change.” It basically p