‘Although climate change will have serious consequences—particularly for people in the poorest countries—it will not lead to humanity’s demise,’ the Microsoft co-founder says.
In a surprising move, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is softening his tone on the dangers of climate change, which he admits some critics might view as hypocritical.
Gates has long advocated for governments to combat climate change, as rising temperatures pose a risk to food supplies and exacerbate poverty. But in a recent blog post, he dials back the « doomsday view of climate change. »
« Although climate change will have serious consequences—particularly for people in the poorest countries—it will not lead to humanity’s demise », he writes. “Unfortunately, the doomsday outlook is causing much of the climate community to focus too much on near-term emissions goals, and it’s diverting resources from the most effective things we should be doing to improve life in a warming world. »
Gates cited “poverty and disease” as two of the biggest problems facing humanity. “Our chief goal should be to prevent suffering, particularly for those in the toughest conditions who live in the world’s poorest countries,” he wrote. « Understanding this will let us focus our limited resources on interventions that will have the greatest impact for the most vulnerable people.
