Gates urges COP30 to prioritize poverty reduction over climate targets
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The UN Climate Change Conference COP30 will kick off with a summit of world leaders on 6 November and run until 21 November. The conference will emphasize “the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for accelerated and collective climate action.” But Microsoft founder Bill Gates issued a statement to COP30 attendees proposing a fundamental shift in priorities: focusing on poverty alleviation rather than climate change.
Gates, who had previously prioritized measures to reduce short-term emissions, was the target of criticism on the grounds that it was “a measurement that should be taken into account more than emissions and temperature change.” [is] improving lives. “Our main goal should be to prevent suffering, especially among those living in the world’s poorest countries and living in the most difficult conditions.”
His argument rests on three basic premises: Climate change poses serious challenges but does not pose an existential threat to civilization; temperature measurements alone inadequately measure climate progress; Improving health and economic well-being provide the most effective defense against climate change.
Gates provides data showing that achieving net-zero emissions would lead to a temperature increase of 1.9 degrees Celsius over 1990 levels, while inaction would lead to a 2.9 degree increase. This one-degree difference, he argues, suggests that resources devoted to net-zero targets could deliver greater human benefits if they were directed to energy access and disease prevention.
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Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates surprised social media users by writing that climate change is not a doomsday scenario for the world. (Sean Gallup/Getty)
The relationship between energy consumption and economic well-being is striking. According to the data cited by Gates, countries with an annual per capita income of less than 1,145 dollars consume approximately 1,100 kilowatts per year, while countries with per capita income exceeding 14,005 dollars consume 55,000 kilowatts per capita annually.
Gates argues that real inequality lies in inequalities in human development. A child born in South Sudan faces a 39 times greater risk of death before the age of five than a child from Sweden. These vulnerable populations need better access to energy, nutrition and health infrastructure.
The relationship between economic development and energy consumption is clear: no country has been able to achieve high per capita income with low per capita energy use, and conversely, no country has been able to sustain high energy consumption alongside persistent poverty.
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Increased energy access facilitates improved living standards through increased productivity, agricultural progress and household consumption, thereby reducing dependence on subsistence agriculture. Energy availability either provides farmers with modern agricultural technologies or enables economic mobility to pursue alternative livelihoods.
High-energy countries benefit from superior health infrastructure and water sanitation systems, leading to reduced maternal and child mortality rates and greater capacity for environmental protection measures.
Hurricane Melissa’s devastation in Jamaica illustrates how natural disasters cause disproportionate damage in developing countries compared to rich countries due to disparities in energy infrastructure, durable construction, and recovery capabilities. Affordable energy access is very important to eliminate these inequalities.
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Energy poverty in many African and Latin American countries is causing migration pressures; because residents are seeking higher living standards in fossil fuel-rich regions, especially Europe and North America.
To support emerging economies and ease migration pressures, President Donald Trump reversed restrictions on loans to developing countries for fossil fuel energy projects. Financial institutions no longer have to solely fund renewable energy initiatives.
Climate demonstrators protest outside the Strand Royal Courts of Justice in London, England on February 20, 2024. (Leon Neal/Getty Images)
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140 private banks from 44 countries participating in the United Nations Net Zero Banking Alliance (including Barclays, JP Morgan Chase and Sumitomo) have suspended their commitments to restrict fossil fuel financing. The World Bank, which has historically prioritized renewable energy sources while discouraging fossil fuel and nuclear energy loans, may reconsider its position.
This policy change enables developing countries to provide financing for conventional power plants, transmission infrastructure, distribution networks and home connections. More importantly, this change reduces China’s strategic advantage in lending to African and Latin American countries (often securing ports and other assets as collateral).
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Gates’ comeback in the climate debate is forcing the international community to confront an uncomfortable truth. While climate conferences are held in developed countries with reliable electricity and healthcare systems, billions of people lack access to the energy that makes such meetings possible.
His argument suggests that the most effective climate strategy may be to ensure that vulnerable populations have the resources to adapt and thrive, rather than pursuing emissions targets that can perpetuate poverty that worsens climate vulnerability. It remains unclear whether policymakers at COP30 will heed this message, but Gates has managed to reshape the debate about what climate action should ultimately serve: economic progress, not just atmospheric targets.
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