Bill Gates called out by Vanessa Kerry over ‘very dangerous’ climate memo at Newsweek COP30

Vanessa Kerry, the CEO of Seed Global Health, has sharply criticised Bill Gates for his recent climate memo, calling it misleading during her appearance at Newsweek COP30.

Speaking at the event, Kerry said the Microsoft co-founder's essay downplayed the urgency of the climate crisis and risked sending a false signal that rising global threats would somehow remain manageable.

During the session, Kerry explained that Gates’ argument, suggesting that investing too heavily in sustainability could divert resources from disease prevention, failed to capture how climate change worsens the very issues his philanthropy seeks to address.

She warned that climate-driven drought, food insecurity, and health inequalities continue to escalate, making the challenges far more complex.

Kerry noted that the discussion at Newsweek COP30 highlighted the growing global recognition that health systems and climate policy must work together.

She also emphasised how rising temperatures and extreme weather directly fuel diseases and displacement, increasing poverty levels in vulnerable communities.

Notably, Bill Gates has defended his stance in recent interviews, insisting his critics misunderstood the broader point of his memo.

However, Kerry maintained that climate action cannot be separated from public health.