Overview
- In a Gates Notes essay ahead of COP30, Gates argues climate change will not lead to humanity’s demise and says falling emissions projections plus innovation justify prioritizing poverty, health and resilience.
- Climate scientists and policy experts say the framing creates a false trade-off with mitigation, warning it could weaken near-term emissions cuts and understate catastrophic tail risks highlighted by events such as Hurricane Melissa.
- Climate-tech investors and entrepreneurs welcome the message as a rejection of doomerism and an opportunity-focused push for innovation-driven solutions.
- A Gates spokesperson says the essay is not a reversal of his stance and maintains that climate and development should be tackled together.
- Political figures are citing the memo to advance competing narratives, with President Donald Trump using it to downplay climate urgency as the debate intensifies ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil.