'FINITE RESOURCES': GATES' SHIFT STIRS CLIMATE CRITIQUE

Microsoft billionaire defends his refocusing of philanthropic funds toward poor countries, an effort some see as misguided

- BY SANDRA MCDONALD

Last week, Bill Gates published a 17-page memo on his personal website that critics said pitted climate and public health efforts against each other, when they should instead be working in tandem.

Monday night, speaking at Caltech in Pasadena, Gates doubled down, brushing off the critiques that came from across the ideological spectrum, including from climate scientists and President Trump.

Stressing that philanthropic resources are finite, Gates said he has shifted some of his efforts from preventing climate change to reducing human disease and malnutrition in a world that he said will undoubtedly become warmer.

The United Nations' 2025 Emissions Gap Report, published Tuesday, says it's likely that by 2100, global temperatures will have increased between 2.0 and 2.4 degrees Celsius compared with preindustrial levels.

Gates said he believes that number will be closer to 3 degrees Celsius.

"The real measure there is all the things we're doing to help the most vulnerable people on the planet," he said.