Published
Video length: 4 mins.
Article written by
Improving the health conditions of people in need and fighting against precariousness: this is the goal of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, of which Melinda French Gates is the co-president. This weekend, she was in Paris at the summit for a new global financial pact. Brut is maintained with her.
On the occasion of the summit for a new global financial pact, organized on June 22 and 23, 2023, Melinda French Gates, co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was present to discuss the energy and climate transition. Among these discussions, concrete measures were decided, as Melinda French Gates attests. “Two billion dollars have been transferred to Senegal to help it in its ecological transition. Zambia, which is one of the most indebted African countries, had its debt refinanced, which had been envisaged for several years”, she explains.
“Your activism makes a huge difference”
According to Melinda French Gates, an injustice exists between the countries of the South and the countries of the North, which pollute more: “It was the North that created it. It is therefore up to the entire global community to unite and say: ‘let’s make the right investments so that these countries can make this energy transition’. They can still tackle poverty, move forward, invest in health and education, and make the climate transition”. For her, these states are not sufficiently represented and integrated into these institutions. “There are 20 leaders who represent the global south, they need to be integrated into these institutions in a stronger way, instead of being limited to what we call the G7 countries. We must make space not only for their voice, but also for them within the institutions of governance”.
In her interview, she also delivers a message to young people who want to get involved. “I would say use your voice. Your activism makes a huge difference. Governments are listening. The Global Citizen concert that took place last night, believe me, we talked about it at the state dinner last night, they see that young people care about our planet. They care about others who live in other places and are well educated like them. So if you use your voice and activism it pushes the government to do the right thing“, she attests.