Bill Gates calls for climate fight to shift focus from curbing emissions to reducing human suffering

Bill Gates believes climate change is a serious problem, but he believes scientific innovation will help slow it. In a memo released Tuesday, Gates argues for a strategic pivot in the global fight against climate. He said rather than focusing on reducing emissions that cause warming, the main goal should be to prevent suffering by fighting poverty and preventing disease, particularly in the world’s poorest countries. He said improving living conditions should not be limited to measures relating to temperature changes and emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and warm the planet. He wrote the memo in hopes of having an impact on the United Nations climate change conference being held next month in Brazil.