Energy & Mines – Bruce Anderson, CEO, 247Solar Inc., takes aim at some of the buzz-words surrounding carbon emissions and climate change, in particular, terms such as renewable, net-zero, and zero-carbon. In an interview with Energy and Mines, he is blunt that the words can be used to “obfuscate as well as to clarify.”
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He is clear that “zero-carbon” is the real deal because it is black-and-white: Either a product or service emits CO2, or it does not – simple and absolute.
In contrast, Anderson has strong words for “net-zero.” Quoting Etihad Airways CEO Tony Douglas in a Bloomberg article, he says companies are “cheating” on their claims.
“Net-zero is comparative – something positive in one place compared to something negative somewhere else,” comments Anderson. “Such comparisons are often tough to measure and easy to fudge.”
“Net-zero means companies can use sleight-of-hand to claim they are doing something to aid the planet, when instead they are often engaged in a shell game, merely moving emissions around.”
“The idea is they’re removing as much CO2 from the atmosphere as they’re putting into it but, best case, it’s a wash,” said the irrepressible CEO.
His advice for mining companies: Make your own operations zero carbon.
Read Bruce’s full January 2022, Op Ed, “Is Net Zero Slowing Progress on Climate Change? The Answer Might Be Yes.”
Interview Source: Energy and Mines, January 2022, Issue 38
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