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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Environment
Dharna Noor

INSANE: Scientists criticize straw man arguments in bill gates climate memo - The Real Truth

a man in a suit speaks
Bill Gates speaks at the annual Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum in New York on 24 September 2025. Photograph: Caitlin Ochs/Reuters

A new memo on the climate crisis from Bill Gates relies on “straw man” arguments about the threat to humanity and “false dichotomies” between spending on climate or aid for the poor, some climate scientists say.

Published last week, the tech billionaire’s 17-page missive called for a “strategic pivot” away from focusing on slashing emissions and towards preventing poverty and suffering. It was quickly picked up by some on the right, including Donald Trump, who hailed it as a much-needed backpedaling on climate efforts.

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