Bill Gates defended his controversial memo calling for a shift to prioritizing human welfare in climate debates. Gates spoke with Axios about the widespread reactions to his memo, saying he’s glad people are listening, but finding it hard to convey “nuanced positions” in today’s discussions. He denied that his funding towards addressing climate change and public health measures has decreased.
Gates pushed back against criticism from conservative leaders, including President Trump, who cheered what they saw as a “wholesale retreat” for the billionaire philanthropist. Gates explained that he didn’t intend to convert non-believers into believers with his memo.
He also addressed concerns from climate scientists that his approach creates a false dichotomy between climate efforts and foreign aid. Gates argued that in a world with limited resources, decisions often have to balance these competing priorities.
The Microsoft co-founder briefly touched on geoengineering, expressing concerns that such technology could undermine efforts to reduce emissions and highlighting the need for understanding local impacts.
Source: https://www.axios.com/2025/11/04/climate-bill-gates-memo