Amazon Defends Working With Oil Companies To Reach Its Zero-Carbon Goal (axios.com) 8
Partnering with oil and gas producers is necessary for Amazon and other companies to achieve their climate goals, the tech giant's chief of sustainability, Kara Hurst, said during an Axios virtual event on Thursday. From a report: Amazon aims to hit carbon neutrality in 2040, 10 years earlier than the Paris climate accord. The company plans to reach its goal in part by helping companies develop climate-friendly technologies through a $2 billion venture fund. The first recipients were announced on Thursday. "Amazon, like every other company you just mentioned -- Google, Microsoft, many tech companies -- works across a wide variety of industries. And I believe it's absolutely necessary to work with those types of industries to create transformation," referring to oil companies.
Virtue Signalling (Score:2)
Since no naysayers were mentioned, I think that Amazon's effort at "defending" is really a ruse to get their own message out. The messages that each company mentioned in the article is trying to push are really just pablum for the masses.
So what's the problem exactly? (Score:5, Insightful)
Amazon is paying companies to help develop "climate friendly" technologies. What's to "defend"? Why does it matter if those companies also extract fossil fuels?
Even if you hate the oil companies, providing them with a pathway to transition to renewables is one of the better ways to wean the world off oil. In order to do that, they need to be able to make money off their renewable projects.
Re:So what's the problem exactly? (Score:4, Insightful)
Most of those "big oil" companies are already moving to renewables - Royal Dutch Shell for example is one. A lot of the stuff they'll be doing right now will be pilot programs, they are spending IIRC $2bn a year on this. They plan to be net-zero by 2050.
But they will do so in a manner that makes sense economically, as the tech develops, matures and can be shown to work. They will not be driven by pie-in-the-sky fantasy or ideology.
Which is why they will be hated by the usual lot of SJWs eager to "change the world".
Re: So what's the problem exactly? (Score:1)
You're right.
The only thing that seems disappointing is that they're aiming to be 'carbon neutral' (however the heck you define that) decades from now.
Seems unambitious guys.
Facts V/s Conspiracies (Score:1)
Avoid the Devil! (Score:3)
Oil companies are the great Satan. Anyone found having intercourse with the Devil must be burned at the stake!