Elon Musk is wrong about climate change
Elon Musk seems to have forgotten some of the basics of how climate change works, so we're going to set the record straight about it now.
Elon Musk participated in a call with three-time Republican nominee for President, Donald Trump.
One portion of this discussion was particularly relevant to our coverage of electric cars and climate change, and thus, it behooves us at Electrek to clear up some of the misconceptions that people might have taken away if they listened in.
Musk, despite previously showing some understanding of climate issues – at one point remarking correctly and succinctly that "Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world" - instead repeated several fossil-industry talking points which show a lack of understanding of how climate change works.
Trump, for his part, pushed even more severe climate disinformation than Musk, some of which Musk offered mild pushback to, though Musk largely compromised to a position that is still incorrect. For example, a basic understanding of geometry shows us that higher sea levels result in less shoreline, not more as Mr. Trump suggested.
It should not be a surprise that Trump showed ignorance of an issue that he has consistently shown ignorance of, so it is less interesting to focus on his comments than on those of a person (Musk) who has claimed for more than a decade that his personal and corporate missions have been to solve climate change.
In the end, Musk's comments overall were not nearly as disastrously wrong as those that Trump consistently makes, but they still represent a significant departure from scientific understanding of climate change, and a retreat from Musk's both previous correct statements on the issue, and from the mission that he has previously claimed, and his company still claims, to have.
So the question is, for those who are still invested either emotionally or financially in Tesla and its mission to move the world to sustainable transport to further the goal of fighting climate change: does it seem reasonable that the CEO of said company would repeat climate misinformation, while talking to and funding one of the loudest global voices against climate action and spouters of EV disinformation… or does something feel, you know, kind of strange about that?
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Ah Vivi : Fake news rider strike again
bullrider_21 OP Ah Vivi : For Tesla bulls, bad news on Tesla are always fake news.
bullrider_21 OP OhNowGombie : Ask a scientist if you want to know the truth about climate change. Except those that work for big oil companies.
Ah Vivi bullrider_21 OP : Dude talks like scientists unilaterally agree on climate change. News flash, they don’t. It’s obvious you only follow legacy media, do weigh them with actual independent media.
bullrider_21 OP Ah Vivi : Most scientists agree climate change is happening now. But those who work for big oil companies will tell you it is not happening or it will take a longer time. Many countries are experiencing heat waves now because of climate change. I know what is fact or fiction. So I know which media I can or can't trust.
Ah Vivi bullrider_21 OP : Nah, you really don’t. There’re many more forces at play than just big oil or fossil fuel proponents. And many places are cooling or fluctuating, but do you see legacy media covering it unbiasedly? Those truly funded by special interests have already shaped your perception of climate change to their preferred narrative. The earth is more complex than you know, and scientific opinions are more diverse than you think.
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bullrider_21 OP Ah Vivi : It is social media that is shaping your perception to their narrative. Social media is a form of communication. They don't care whether they are spreading lies as they think it is freedom of speech. Legacy media check the facts and present them.
Lnova : I did not hear the entire interview… but I was also a bit surprised… when mentioned that we should keep using oil and introduce electric vehicles gradually
Lnova : I was just a bit surprised by how moderate Elon Musk seemed to be in the interview about oil vs electric. I am not sure if that is his usual stance on the matter. I can respect a moderate viewpoint as it may be someone just considering different sides. I was just surprised to hear him have a moderate viewpoint about that, I guess. I’m not saying that one viewpoint is wrong or right. I don’t understand climate change and science enough to debate anything about it. I do think the weather has been becoming unbearably hot but I’m not educated in the scientific aspect of why it is happening. I myself would like to get an electric vehicle because I would prefer it but for me it’s a personal preference, not because I understand the science