Overview
- Speaking at Caltech on Nov. 3, Gates said climate change is a grave problem but not civilization-ending and called for sustained emissions cuts alongside greater help for the most vulnerable.
- He pointed to faster-than-expected clean-energy progress and cited practical measures such as AI advice for Indian farmers and drought‑tolerant maize to protect livelihoods.
- He warned that aid for poorer countries is shrinking, saying Gavi expects about 25% less funding over the next five years compared with the previous five.
- He told Axios that President Trump’s celebratory post was a “gigantic misreading” of his 17‑page memo, which advocates a revised focus, not abandonment of climate action.
- Health officials and climate scientists criticized his framing as underplaying mitigation, while Gates argues temperature is a poor success gauge and that human welfare should lead.