At TED2010, Bill Gates unveils his vision for the world's energy future, describing the need for "miracles" to avoid planetary catastrophe and explaining why he's backing a dramatically different type of nuclear reactor. The necessary goal? Zero carbon emissions globally by 2050.

Bill Gates: Innovating to zero!

Innovating to zero!

Facing a dual deadline: 20 years to innovate and 20 more to deploy, underlines the urgency in meeting global energy goals.

Harnessing zero-emission tech is crucial; a new nuclear approach burns 99% of current waste, powering the US for centuries.

Pushing for radical advances in energy, like the traveling wave reactor, could dramatically cut CO2 and revolutionize power sources.