Caroline Griffith, NEC Executive Director
Elena Bilheimer, EcoNews Journalist
Greenwashing
We live in a complex, changing world and it can be overwhelming to be a human trying to deal with the emotional realities of climate change while making the best (or least bad) decisions about how to navigate the world with the least amount of impact. There are endless options for products that claim to be “sustainable” and “green”, and here at EcoNews we are fortunate enough to have an inbox full of these so-called solutions every morning. It can be difficult to sort fact from fiction, and some of these products seem straight out of the pages of science fiction novels, so we thought we would test your skills at seeing through the lies. Which of the following are real products, events, or services that are being offered as “solutions” to the climate crisis? And which have been fabricated by NEC Staff?
1. Event: Lauren Boebert to speak at 15th International Conference on Climate Change
U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO), a member of the House Resources Committee, will be a featured keynote speaker at the 15th International Conference on Climate Change, being held in Orlando, FL from Feb. 23-25, 2023.
From the green energy boondoggles in the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” in the United States, to the ongoing wind-power disaster in Germany, and threats of energy cuts in the winter in the UK, the climate policy “solutions” are a real and growing problem for the people of the world. Why are we making life poorer and more miserable for most of the people on the planet when there is no climate crisis?
These issues and more will be discussed by scientists and policy experts at the only conference of its kind that takes a data-driven, realist approach to what is actually causing climate change and what (if anything) humans can do about it.
2. Product: MarsPods® by SpaceX and Tesla
SpaceX and Tesla recently announced a collaboration for their newest product, called MarsPods®. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, these state of the art “pods” are designed to give users a taste of what life on Mars would look and feel like in their bodies.
Building upon already existing technology used by astronauts to train for missions to space, the pods use advanced AI technology and high-fidelity simulators to provide users with the opportunity to physically train their bodies to adapt to an environment that mimics the conditions of Mars.
This collaborative launch is part of co-founder Elon Musk’s continued quest to create a self-sustaining city on Mars. In a recent announcement from the two companies, Musk restated his vision for establishing a city of one million people on the red planet by 2050, with the distribution of MarsPods® serving as an important step in making that dream a reality. Recent research has confirmed the treacherous nature of Mars’ terrain, stressing the necessity of advancing already existing technology and finding ways to prepare the human body for the substantial physiological stress that would be sustained by relocating to another planet.
3. Product: Cultivated Beef
Cultivated meat tops the food industry’s trends for 2023. The cultivated meat sector saw many advancements over the course of 2022 and the industry’s innovation continues to evolve. Mosa Meat is the industry pioneer in the cultivated meat space that grows beef directly from animal cells and unveiled the first cultivated hamburger in 2013.
Global meat consumption is projected to grow more than 40% by 2030, and Mosa Meat is leading a global movement to transform the way meat is produced. Beef specifically, is the protein with the highest carbon footprint globally.
Our founders introduced the world’s first cultivated beef hamburger in 2013, by growing it directly from cow cells. Founded in 2016, Mosa Meat is now scaling up production of the same beef that people love, but in a way that is better for people, animals, and the planet.
Headquartered in Maastricht, The Netherlands, Mosa Meat is a privately held company backed by Blue Horizon, M Ventures, Bell Food Group, Nutreco, Mitsubishi Corporation, Leonardo DiCaprio and other high-caliber investors.
4. Product: Monaco “Green” Yachts
Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) and its President HSH Prince Albert II have long been committed to the energy transition in becoming a platform to build tomorrow’s yachting, as part of the environmental policy supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation.
Launched in 2020 by YCM, this first carbon footprint calculator [Sea Index®] allows a quick comparison of superyachts over 40m to target environmental objectives to reduce CO2 emissions in yachting.
Thanks to the SEA Index® tool, YCM Marina has for example set up a system to encourage yachts with a low environmental impact by giving Superyacht Eco Association members preferential rates on berths.
“The Superyacht Eco Association members’ community at YCM and outside, keeps growing. We are seeing clear evidence of more sustainable choices being made by owners. It’s important to act now and reach out to the superyacht community as a whole,” says YCM General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri.
The Answers
Could you spot the fake solutions amongst the real products and services? Although options one, three, and four are outlandish, they are all real products and services that have been advertised to the NEC by email. (That “climate change” conference is hosted by the Heartland Institute, infamous climate deniers.) Option two is the brainchild of Elena and Caroline. While SpaceX and Tesla co-founder Elon Musk has declared his intentions to create a city on the red planet, MarsPods® have yet to be invented. We hope you enjoyed our quiz, stay vigilant out there!