MIT Technology Review Narrated Google, Amazon and the problem with Big Tech’s climate claims
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May 28, 2025 This discussion delves into the contrasting climate strategies of Amazon and Google, emphasizing how their methods reflect on their genuine commitment to sustainability. It questions Amazon's carbon-matching approach while highlighting Google's innovative solutions in direct air capture. The podcast stresses the dangers of relying on cheap carbon offsets and advocates for the 'contribution model,' urging companies to focus on direct emission reductions and responsible climate investments for true accountability.
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Focus on Climate Impact Not Speed
- How companies achieve net zero matters more than how quickly they do it.
- The focus is shifting from balancing emissions to creating broader climate impacts.
Net-Zero Plans' Perverse Incentives
- Net-zero plans can create perverse incentives to pick cheap fixes over real emission cuts.
- Carbon offsets and renewable energy credits often overstate actual climate benefits.
Limitations of Renewable Energy Credits
- Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) may not effectively drive new clean energy projects anymore.
- Buying RECs without direct impact fails to reduce actual emissions from company operations.