As the world prepares for the COP30 summit in Brazil, Bill Gates has shared a blunt message about climate change. In a recent essay, he said that while global warming is a real danger, panic and misplaced priorities could make things worse for people in poorer countries. He believes the conversation at COP30 should shift from just cutting emissions to protecting human welfare.
Gates’ first point is that climate change, though serious, will not destroy civilization. He argues that the situation is not hopeless. Global emissions are still too high, but advances in clean energy—like cheaper solar power and electric cars—have already slowed the rise. With the right investments, he says, more progress can be made without crippling economies.
His second point is that the world must stop treating emission numbers as the only measure of progress. According to him, poverty and disease remain far bigger threats to millions of people than climate itself. Many of the world’s poorest already struggle with hunger and sickness, and those problems will worsen if governments divert money from health and development programs just to meet emission targets. Gates points out that some countries’ attempts to reduce emissions—like banning chemical fertilizers—ended up causing food shortages.
The third truth, he says, is that real development is the best form of climate adaptation. Stronger economies, better healthcare, and improved farming practices make communities more capable of handling floods, droughts, and heat waves. In Kenya, for instance, farmers planting drought-tolerant maize have seen their harvests grow. In India, millions of small farmers now get early weather warnings through mobile phones, helping them protect their crops from erratic rains.
Gates also stresses that rich countries are cutting back on aid, even as poorer ones face growing debts and tighter budgets. This means every dollar spent must bring real value. He argues that vaccines, better seeds, and clean energy tools should take priority because they save lives and help families earn a living.
As COP30 approaches, Gates urges leaders to think practically: don’t pour money into projects that look good on paper but do little for people on the ground.
The real goal,” he writes, “is not just to lower global temperatures, but to make life better for the people living through these changes.
