“Drill, baby, drill.” | Elon Musk Is No Climate Hero

4 comments

1. Elon Musk has spent a large chunk of his career casting himself as an environmental champion, sometimes going so far as to paint himself as the one man standing between the world and disaster. He has told the story of Tesla, in particular, as a hero’s journey to save the world through a transition to a [sustainable energy economy](https://www.wired.com/story/the-mystery-vehicle-at-the-heart-of-teslas-new-master-plan/). “I think I am objectively one of the world’s leading environmentalists in terms of doing things,” he said [at an Italian political event](https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/16/europe/elon-musk-italy-political-convention-intl/index.html) last December.

   Musk’s newer and wishy-washy approach to climate also reflects not only his [very vocal embrace of far-right politics](https://www.wired.com/story/musk-trump-support-x/) but also a new story he’s telling about Tesla. For the past few years, and especially as the chatter around artificial intelligence has hit a fever pitch, Musk has positioned his electric-auto maker as a path-breaker in [robotic intelligence](https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musks-half-baked-robot-is-a-clunky-first-step/), too. In 2019, Musk announced that Tesla would have 1 million robotaxis on the road [by the end of the year](https://www.wired.com/story/promises-broken-musk-offers-new-pledges-self-driving/). (It didn’t). More recently, Tesla reportedly shifted resources from building a more affordable electric car, the mythical Model 2, [to releasing a purpose-built robotaxi](https://www.wired.com/story/tesla-going-all-in-on-robotaxis/), even though the company has yet to reveal any true self-driving technology.

   Full story here: [https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-trump-climate-tesla/](https://www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-trump-climate-tesla/)

2. So much for the hero of preserving the light of consciousness.. :/

3. Boycott Tesla

   There are many good electric options now if you need a car

4. He is finishing war in Ukraine. More oil -> cheaper oil -> less money for war.