Bill Gates believes climate change is serious but not civilization-ending, and he urges a “strategic pivot” from focusing solely on limiting temperature rise to prioritizing poverty reduction and disease prevention.

In a memo ahead of the U.N. climate conference, Gates argued that resources should target the most effective ways to improve human life, especially in the world’s poorest countries, even if that means accepting minor increases in global temperature.

He emphasizes health initiatives, like eradicating malaria, as more urgent than small reductions in warming, reflecting his work with the Gates Foundation and Breakthrough Energy.

Scientists largely agree on prioritizing human well-being but caution that Gates’ approach oversimplifies climate dynamics and risks ignoring long-term environmental consequences, NBC News has reported.

Gates maintains that a stable climate remains critical, but his memo seeks to spark debate on balancing immediate human needs with long-term climate action.