It’s now official: we cannot rely on billionaires to solve the issue of climate change. According to a report by The New York Times, Breakthrough Energy, a joint initiative founded by Bill Gates and other environmentally-conscious billionaires, is downsizing its staff significantly, which will likely undermine its ability to influence policy and lobby effectively.

On the one hand, there is some logic behind Breakthrough Energy’s strategic shift. The organization, which was established in 2015 with $1 billion in funding for high-risk, high-reward climate solutions, is reducing its policy staff, particularly in the United States. This decision is based on the assumption that they will not be able to make significant progress in shaping laws during the Trump administration.

This assumption is likely valid, given Trump’s well-documented skepticism about climate change. He has reversed several major climate policies, removed references to climate change from government documents and websites, and attempted to freeze climate-related spending from the Inflation Reduction Act. Furthermore, his appointment of Lee Zeldin to lead the Environmental Protection Agency and his efforts to accelerate climate change suggest that collaboration with his administration may be challenging.

However, it is worth considering alternative approaches. Rather than abandoning policy efforts, Breakthrough Energy could focus on lobbying at the state and local levels, where the political landscape may be more favorable. For instance, in states like Rhode Island, where Democrats have held power for over a decade, efforts to pass carbon pricing laws have been thwarted by massive lobbying efforts from fossil fuel interests.

Additionally, there may be opportunities to work with the Trump administration on specific issues, such as expanding nuclear power, which Breakthrough Energy has supported in the past. Heatmap News notes that the organization did not discriminate against controversial low-carbon energy production methods like nuclear power, and Trump has expressed interest in expanding nuclear power across the country.

While Trump has made it clear that he intends to dismantle the Inflation Reduction Act, which Breakthrough Energy lobbied for during the Biden administration, there are signs that some Republicans may not want to give up the clean energy tax credits that have benefited their communities. According to Politico, at least 21 House Republicans have signed a letter urging Trump not to kill off these tax credits. These lawmakers could potentially be swayed to support pro-climate policies.

Instead of giving up on policy efforts, Breakthrough Energy is choosing to shift its focus to funding startups and clean energy companies, according to The New York Times. While this approach may lead to the discovery of new alternative energy solutions, it is crucial to remember that adoption and implementation still require lobbying and policy efforts.