TED Talks Daily Are ad agencies, PR firms and lobbyists destroying the climate? | Solitaire Townsend
Feb 23, 2022
In this fascinating discussion, Solitaire Townsend, a sustainability solution seeker, sheds light on the under-the-radar 'X industry,' a $2 trillion sector including advertising and PR firms, which profoundly impacts climate change. She uncovers how these industries often promote carbon-heavy practices while emphasizing the need for accountability. Townsend proposes a transformative approach, showcasing how their creativity could help drive environmental solutions instead of contributing to the problem. A must-listen for climate advocates and industry insiders!
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The Invisible Industry
- The "X industry" (advertising, PR, consulting, legal, lobbying) significantly influences climate change.
- This industry, worth over $2 trillion, facilitates other businesses' actions, impacting our net-zero goals.
Building an Oil Rig
- Solitaire Townsend describes how the X industry supports oil rig construction.
- From financial modeling to community outreach, these firms handle everything except the actual drilling.
BP's Image Rehab
- After the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP tripled its spending on promotional advertising.
- The X industry arguably cleaned up BP's image more effectively than BP cleaned the Gulf of Mexico.