Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, expressed a nuanced perspective on the role of oil and gas in the medium term during a political gathering organized by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, Reuters reported.
Musk cautioned against demonizing the fossil fuel industry immediately, suggesting that the focus should be on gradually reducing carbon emissions to ensure the planet’s sustainability.
Elon said: “Climate change alarm is exaggerated in the short term,” adding that the environmental movement may have gone too far, causing people to lose faith in the future according to Reuters.
While acknowledging himself as an environmentalist, Musk mentioned that the alarm over climate change might be exaggerated in the short term, potentially leading to an overreach by the environmental movement.
He emphasized the importance of industries working toward reducing the billions of tons of carbon released into the atmosphere through fossil fuel combustion in the long run.
“We should not demonise oil and gas in the medium term,” he added.
At the COP28 climate summit earlier this month, representatives from nearly 200 countries agreed to initiate efforts to reduce global fossil fuel consumption, signaling a shift away from the oil age. Musk’s remarks align with his belief in the need for a gradual transition rather than an abrupt demonization of oil and gas.
