Bill Gates on Climate Change

Bill Gates views climate change as a serious, but non-civilization-ending, global problem that must be solved primarily through scientific innovation and technological breakthroughs, rather than solely focusing on near-term emissions reduction targets. He argues for a strategic pivot in global efforts to focus more on preventing human suffering, especially in the poorest countries, stating that improvements in health and prosperity are the best defense against climate change impacts. He acknowledges that every fraction of a degree of warming matters because a stable climate facilitates improvements in people's lives, but maintains that limited resources should be rigorously allocated based on data-driven analysis to maximize impact on human welfare.

His position is heavily informed by his work with the Gates Foundation, leading him to view climate adaptation and development as intrinsically linked, suggesting that development itself is a form of adaptation. Gates has established Breakthrough Energy to accelerate clean energy innovation in sectors with high 'Green Premiums,' such as steel and cement, expressing confidence that new affordable zero-carbon technologies will be ready to scale by mid-century with the right policies. He advocates for governments to drive the cost difference between clean and polluting methods to zero and to rigorously measure the impact of all climate spending based on its effect on human well-being.