Bill Gates Urges Climate Priorities Shift Ahead of COP30

Bill Gates published a Gates Notes memo ahead of COP30 calling for a “strategic pivot” in the global response to climate change, arguing that a doomsday focus on near‑term emissions and temperature targets diverts resources from preventing disease, hunger and poverty and that “climate change will not lead to humanity’s demise.” He urged leaders to measure progress by improvements in human welfare — lives saved and suffering prevented — rather than temperature alone, and offered the provocative example that he would accept a 0.1°C rise to prioritize eradicating malaria. Gates said near‑term emissions targets can divert resources from development and adaptation, called for governments and companies to drive down the cost of clean technologies, and highlighted hard‑to‑decarbonize sectors such as aviation where sustainable fuels carry a large “green premium.” He warned that cuts to U.S. foreign aid threaten lifesaving health and food programs and said he will continue to support clean‑energy innovation through Breakthrough Energy and his foundation's global health work, even as some of his climate policy efforts have been scaled back. The memo has provoked praise from contrarian commentators and criticism from climate leaders and U.N. officials warning of severe consequences after missing the 1.5°C goal, and is intended to influence deliberations at COP30.