Belém, November 10, 2025.- As COP30 opens this Monday, November 10 in Belém, Brazil, a polemic swells around Bill Gates. A sentence from one of his blog posts was taken over and hijacked by Donald Trump, who uses it to justify his rejection of the fight against climate change. Microsoft's co-founder denies any challenge to warming, instead recalling his commitment to adaptation and innovation solutions.
The 30th Climate Conference of the Parties (COP30), organized by the United Nations (UN) in Belém, Brazil, is opening up in a tense climate. As world leaders come together to strengthen commitments against global warming, a media controversy shakes social networks.
Everything started with a sentence published at the end of October by Bill Gates on his website: « Global warming will not lead to the extinction of humanity. » This statement, taken from a note on COP30, was immediately hijacked by US President Donald Trump. On his network Truth Social, he claimed « having won the war against the hoax of climate change »affirming that Bill Gates had « acknowledged to be completely deceived ». His supporters then massively relayed this message, fuelling confusion on the networks.
Yet, the American businessman never declared himself climatosceptic. In his text, Bill Gates argues for a more pragmatic approach to climate action. It considers that, despite the seriousness of the disruption, « people will continue to live and prosper on the majority of the planet in the near future ». The billionaire calls for a greater focus on improving living conditions, health and technological innovation, the pillars of its philanthropic foundation.
Bill Gates clearly recognizes the « serious consequences » in particular for « poor countries » in the front line in the face of climate disasters. He recalls that « each tenth degree avoided is beneficial » and that a more stable climate remains essential for human development.
Thus, far from an ideological shift, Microsoft's founder's statement emphasizes the need to adapt societies to climate change rather than deny its existence. A nuance that Donald Trump, faithful to his climatosceptic discourse, chose to ignore on the eve of a conference crucial for the future of the planet.
W.A.withFranceInfo
