Does Elon Musk Really Care for the Environment?
An experiment on public perception
Does Elon Musk really care about the environment?
Short answer:
Probably yes
Long answer:
Section 1:
Okay– disclosure first: The first section of this article is by someone who has NOT done in-depth research on Elon Musk’s life.
And that is precisely why you should read it.
Normally– before writing anything– I dive into a sea of information and live in the depths of the research phase, examining the authenticity of sources and snapping screenshots of interesting commentary on a topic, just like the submersibles photographing interesting life forms on the sea bed.
But when the idea for this article came to my mind, I realized I was the perfect candidate for an experiment on perception.
And chances are, although you are most likely very familiar with Elon Musk’s name and face, you have probably not done a lot of research on his life or his companies. Perhaps, you will find this article very enlightening as far as the concepts of image creation and public perception are concerned.
So here are the first things that come to my mind when I hear Elon Musk’s name.
Mars guy
Rich guy
100-hour work week guy
Charismatic and eccentric personality
Environment guy
Troll
Tech geek.
Many kids. One with an unconventional name.
Real-life Iron Man.
The question is — Why did these traits come to my mind?
Because of news articles I had scrolled through? Because of what other people say in social media comments? Because Elon has intentionally implanted these notions into our minds with a PR strategy?
But every brand does that. And you cannot call it a nefarious practice. How else are brands going to communicate with consumers?
All the same, it is important to question your own perception of the world from time to time. The problem arises when brands try to manipulate you into believing misleading information using the charm of larger-than-life personalities. For example, climate change deniers have stopped questioning their role models. They have fallen into the trap of misinformation purported by those they look up to.
We are constantly assuming things. You probably assumed that I would try to tear down the Tesla CEO in this article. Nope. I am just asking questions from a neutral standpoint.
Section 2:
I am writing the second section after reading about Elon Musk for many hours
What do Elon’s critics have to say?
Rockets cause pollution
Elon Musk has controversial views on some topics
His private jets cause pollution
SpaceX launch sites threaten wildlife
His satellites are polluting the skies
Tesla cars use Li-ion batteries that cause significant environmental harm
Electric cars might still get their energy from burning carbon
And more…
My 2 cents
Elon Musk probably cares for the environment.
You cannot disagree that he has gone the extra mile to create a better future for humanity. Does he make money off it? Yes. But should we succumb to eat-the-rich attitudes?
Electric cars are far from perfect but they are still better for the climate than petrol cars. Reusable rockets avoid manufacturing-related emissions. And the SpaceX CEO has put up a USD 100 million prize to find better CO2 removal technology.
A problem I find with critics is that they might point things out, but they do not necessarily provide solutions. It descends into a blame game sooner than later. And sometimes critics can have ulterior motives too, especially if they have connections with rival companies. But I wouldn’t want to condemn critics either. They have their own place in society, as they warn us to be vigilant of powerful people.
However, at Balding Green Hills, we support collaboration and solution-oriented mindframes over petty shit-slinging. We encourage pointing out the flaws of others, but with the intention of helping them, not pulling them down.
One of the primary hurdles I have observed environmentally-focused businesses face is that solving one problem can sometimes open the door to more and bigger problems. I have explored this issue in this article and suggested a potential solution to the dilemma.
Technological innovations have a certain cost (often environmental) associated with them. It is a case of determining if the positives really outweigh the negatives. If a product or a service has an actual shot at improving life quality and the future of the planet, we must– as we have always– press forward. As long as we are continuously tweaking and improving to minimize downsides, we are good.
Are you an entrepreneur successfully running an environment-focused business? I would love to interview you! Shoot me an email.
