News outlets report on the release of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2016 Annual Letter, which focuses on energy, climate change, gender equality, and other development issues.

Bloomberg Business: Bill Gates Q&A on Climate Change: ‘We Need a Miracle’
“All we need is an energy miracle. No pressure, kids. So came the call from Bill Gates on Monday evening with the release of his annual letter. It tackles heady subjects with the billionaire’s usual optimistically sober tone. Unlike letters past, Gates aimed this year’s missive at teenagers instead of adults, arguing they’re our best shot at solving the world’s energy crisis…” (Vance, 2/22).

Business Insider Australia: The Bill Gates Interview: An energy miracle is coming, and it’s going to change the world
“…The head of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation spoke about how to make an energy miracle happen, the stakes of climate change, and what the role of the world’s billionaires is in all of this…” (Baer, 2/22).

Reuters: Bill Gates says Zika response better than for Ebola
“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has turned its attention to the Zika virus outbreak, and its founders said the response to the crisis, which may be linked to devastating birth defects in South America, has been better than for the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Africa. ‘We got deeply involved in Ebola, and we’re already getting deeply involved in Zika,’ said Melinda Gates in an interview ahead of release of the foundation’s annual letter on Monday…” (Berkrot, 2/23).

USA TODAY: Bill Gates’ superpower: More (and cheaper) energy
“…After focusing nearly two decades and prodigious resources on a range of often vexing global issues, Gates says he remains optimistic about the state of the world. ‘Because the news lens is more on the setbacks than the gradual improvements, I think the world at large has not seen where a combination of innovation and generosity is actually having this huge positive effect,’ he says. ‘I wouldn’t enjoy the foundation work if I wasn’t seeing a lot of progress on all the things that we work on’…” (della Cava, 2/23).

WIRED: Bill Gates Talks Climate Peril and Election 2016 (Oh, and Beyoncé)
“…This year, the issue most on his mind is climate change, and on hers, improving the lives of women. These are the kinds of world-scale issues that attract the couple every year; what’s different in 2016 is their decision to address this year’s letter to high school students. But it’s not surprising when you think about it: today’s teens will be dealing with these issues longer than the rest of us. WIRED recently talked to Gates about the letter…” (Alba, 2/22).