Paradoxes to save the planet from a private jet or a squeeze of 500 million dollars

If we ask you that Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk have in common, the most immediate (and obvious) answer, it would probably be: “Millions of dollars” Hundreds of billions of dollarsin fact. However, these millionaires also stand out for their contributions, direct or indirect, to sustainability and to stop climate change.

However, despite all their efforts to protect the planet, these millionaires cannot avoid falling into a large paradox: fighting climate change mounted on private jets and supereyates that They cross oceans just for your wealthy owners to enjoy a weekend.

Jeff Bezos: red carpets, awards and teak

A few days ago, Jeff Bezos and his fiancee Lauren Sánchez Balearic waters changed To address the French Costa as a previous scale To his appointment in Venice, where the millionaire and the eventual astronaut will marry from June 24 to 27.

The reason for that stop in Cannes’ waters could not be more noble: to go to the gala that the beneficial gala of The Global Gift Gala that organized the Spanish Global Gift Foundation. At that gala, Lauren Sánchez collected the award Global Gift Women Empowerment Awarein recognition of his work at the head of the Bezos Earth Fund.

As its name indicates, this is a foundation funded by Jeff Bezos and, its main objective is, literally“Solve the great current problems, such as climate change, food security, forest protection, ocean management.”

Once the recognition for such a laudable task, the millionaire couple returned to the 500 million dollars. None of this would attract attention, taking into account that Jeff Bezos is the second greatest fortune in the world according to Forbes.

However, as Louis Pisano stands out in One of his latest articlesis that the couple gathered recognition of work in the preservation of the environment and the fight against climate change to, immediately, upload board of a superyate in which, according to its manufacturer recognized Given justice, illegal teak wood of Myanmar forests had been used.

Beyond the materials used in its construction, a study revealed that, despite being the world’s largest private sailboat and using the force of the wind to navigate, the Koru It uses two 12 -cylinder and 1,468 hp MTU diesel engines. According to data from A studyMade by researchers from the University of Indian His base in Florida and the Destinations in the Caribbean either The Mediterranean.

Jeff Bezos’s schooner sees how emissions double Navigate next to Abeonathe support yacht of the Koruthat does not relieve its emissions displaying candles, but depends 100% of its engines.

Bill Gates does not feel “part of the problem”

Jeff Bezos is not the only millionaire who incurs this paradox. Bill Gates supports from its Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation different projects that fight against global warming and for the preservation of natural habitats.

Gates also supports different energy solutions from its companies looking for an alternative to the fossil fuel burning and has financed projects to develop technologies that capture CO2 of the atmosphere to store it underground.

However, although the millionaire is dedicating all his fortune To that end, the millionaire is aware of His “guilty pleasure“: A Global Express BD-700 Bombardier who uses as a private jet for his displacements. His personal friend Warren Buffet baptized Gates’s private jet as indefensible, precisely because of the paradox that means using one of the most polluting means of transport for his displacements.

Gates has never hidden his preference for private jet and in a Interview with the BBC I declared: “I feel comfortable with the idea that, not only am I not part of the problem when paying compensation, but also through the billions that my innovative energy group is spending, I am part of the solution,” arguing that the help you can provide with your work that the damage they cause with the CO2 emissions of your private jet is more valuable.

Elon Musk, sustainable only at ground level

With its commitment to the electric car and the use of solar energy, Tesla has made a big difference in the reduction of CO2 traffic emissions in cities. However, you can’t say the same as its CEO, Elon Musk.

According to 2023 data collected by account @Elonjetnextday That analyzes the movements of the private planes of Elon Musk, the millionaire emits about 107 tons of CO2 to the atmosphere every week of average.

Together, the Elon Musk’s private jet displacements generated 5,159 tons of CO2 a year, compared to the 7.7 tons that, on averageeach inhabitant broadcasts a year. Without yacht or private jet, of course.

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Image | Oceanco, Blue Origin, Flickr (India government, World Bank Photo Collection)