Microsoft founder Bill Gates rejected the idea that his memo on climate change was a paradigm shift in his stance on the topic.
In late October, Gates made waves in the climate change movement when he wrote a letter standing against the “doomsday” climate view.
“Although climate change will have serious consequences — particularly for people in the poorest countries — it will not lead to humanity’s demise,” Gates wrote.
After President Donald Trump and conservatives praised Gates’s letter as a major course reversal from previous, more alarmist, writings, he denounced this understanding in an interview with Axios.
“It’s a gigantic misreading of the memo,” Gates said.
Trump posted on Truth Social following Gates’s initial letter, saying he “won” the debate over climate change.
“I (WE!) just won the War on the Climate Change Hoax. Bill Gates has finally admitted that he was completely WRONG on the issue. It took courage to do so, and for that we are all grateful. MAGA!!!” Trump wrote.
Gates’s October memo denounced climate change as an existential threat and argued that climate activists need to put welfare matters at the forefront of the fight, calling nutrition and health projects “programs that help people stay resilient in the face of climate change.”
In the interview on Monday night, Gates said he is increasing his investments in both programs aimed at addressing climate change and those focused on public health.
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“I didn’t think the memo was going to convert the non-believers into believers, and sure enough, it didn’t convert them,” Gates said.
Gates also pushed back against climate scientists who have criticized his memo. Despite the controversy surrounding his letter, Gates said, “I’m glad people are listening.”
