Bill Gates Urges Climate Resilience Over Temperature Targets at COP30

Bill Gates, the billionaire investor and philanthropist, has urged world leaders to pivot their climate strategies toward enhancing health and prosperity rather than sticking strictly to temperature reduction targets. Speaking ahead of the COP30 climate talks, scheduled for November in Belem, Brazil, Gates emphasized the importance of building climate resilience.

Gates wrote on his personal blog that enhancing human welfare, particularly in vulnerable regions, could provide more equitable benefits than focusing solely on temperature goals. He advocated for substantial investments in energy access, healthcare, and agricultural resilience as key components for COP30 discussions. He also questioned whether current climate aid spending was effective.

Additionally, Gates encouraged investors to support companies developing impactful clean technologies. He noted that direct deaths from natural disasters have decreased significantly due to improved warning systems and infrastructure, aligning with U.N. and WMO calls for enhanced disaster warning systems to mitigate extreme weather impacts, primarily in developing countries.