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.”
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.
Source: Energy and Mines, January 2022, Issue 38
Image source of a grid application: 247Solar
Image of Bruce Anderson: Energy and Mines