Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and philanthropist, has called for a shift in the global climate agenda, urging leaders to focus more on reducing human suffering than solely curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

In a memo released Tuesday ahead of next month’s United Nations climate conference in Brazil, Gates emphasized that while climate change remains a serious challenge, scientific innovation can mitigate its worst effects. He argued that the climate community’s focus on limiting temperature rise has sometimes diverted resources from addressing urgent human needs in the world’s poorest regions.

“If given a choice between eradicating malaria and a tenth of a degree increase in warming, I’ll let the temperature rise to get rid of malaria,” Gates said, highlighting the pressing human cost of disease and poverty.

Gates, who now dedicates much of his time to the Gates Foundation and Breakthrough Energy, stressed that the priority should be preventing suffering, particularly in vulnerable populations. His foundation has invested billions in health, education, and development initiatives, including the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

While some climate scientists and experts welcomed the focus on human well-being, others criticized Gates’ approach as potentially downplaying the urgent need to curb emissions. Scientists note that even small increases in global temperatures can worsen extreme weather, threaten biodiversity, and push the planet closer to irreversible tipping points.

Gates also noted that innovation in clean energy, including cheaper solar and wind power, is progressing faster than expected, helping avoid worst-case warming scenarios. However, funding to help developing countries adapt is shrinking, which he called a concern for public health and climate resilience.

He concluded that climate aid should be carefully allocated, supporting projects that have measurable impact on human health and development rather than marginally reducing emissions at high cost.