Portrait of Elon Musk
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Elon Musk on Climate Change

Technology solution advocate (strong) Position evolved

Elon Musk firmly believes that climate change is real, pressing, and solvable primarily through technological advancement and industry transformation, notably via Tesla and SolarCity.

His solution-oriented approach emphasizes scaling electric vehicles and carbon removal, though his stance on the urgency and the role of government incentives has shown nuance over time.

Musk has historically been a strong proponent of urgent action but has more recently downplayed the speed required for the transition, aligning with more conservative political viewpoints.

Context

Elon Musk's business ventures are central to his climate change stance, as Tesla is a leader in electric vehicles (EVs) and SolarCity (now Tesla Energy) focuses on solar power systems.

His companies are positioned as the scalable, technological solutions he advocates for to transition away from fossil fuels and address rising CO2 levels.

Timeline

  1. Musk warned that delaying the renewable energy transition could lead to more displacement and destruction than all wars in history combined.
  2. Declared that climate change is the biggest threat humanity faces this century, backing this with the existence of Tesla and Solar City.
  3. Expressed opposition to President Biden's Build Back Better legislation and government incentives generally, stating the government should just 'play referee.'
  4. Stated that climate change risk is real, but implied the timeline for severe impacts is much slower than what he termed 'alarmists claim.'

Actions Taken

  1. Company Founding
    Co-founded SolarCity, a company focused on making solar energy accessible and affordable to shift away from fossil fuels.
  2. Initiative Funding
    Launched the $100 Million XPrize for Carbon Removal to fund technologies that remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
  3. Political Stance
    When President Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement, Musk stated he was quitting a presidential advisory body in protest.

Key Quotes

We are running the most dangerous experiment in history, which is to see how much carbon dioxide the atmosphere can handle.

Various statements January 1, 2018 — Stating his belief in the severity of the climate crisis.

Climate change risk is real, just much slower than alarmists claim.

X (formerly Twitter) post January 1, 2025 — A recent statement reflecting a slower timeline for risks.

If we were to stop using oil and gas right now, we would all be starving and the economy would collapse … We still have quite a bit of time …

Joe Rogan podcast February 1, 2021 — Explaining the necessity of fossil fuels in the short term.

My top recommendation, honestly, would be just add a carbon tax.

Joe Rogan podcast February 1, 2021 — His primary policy recommendation regarding emissions.

Criticism

Food & Water Watch

Musk's political alignment with Donald Trump and his recent downplaying of climate urgency dissolve any illusions of genuine commitment to progress on climate change.

Food & Water Watch

Tesla's environmental track record is spotty, citing over 110 air quality violations at one factory since 2019 and wastewater leaks at another plant.

Paul Bledsoe

Musk's current downplaying of climate dangers suggests he may be thinking about using government contracts for geoengineering as costs become undeniable.