“Part of the transition” – another form of greenwash?
A pattern I have noticed recently is high carbon businesses defending themselves by saying they’re a crucial “part of the transition to Net Zero.” I’ve heard it about both coal (needed to make steel to make wind turbines) and, more frequently, gas (on the grounds it is cleaner than coal). I’ve also seen banks making the claim and I’d love to see how much of their investment is actually in low carbon tech and how much is in oil, gas and coal.
Like all misleading statements, there is usually an element of truth about these claims, but I can’t help feeling that the main motive is to excuse business as usual. I see banks claiming the same, but I would love to see the balance of their portfolio between genuinely low carbon businesses and fossil fuel companies.
I’m also wondering how much of this is consciously cynical and how much it is people kidding themselves. I tend to the latter – it is very difficult to acknowledge you are part of the problem, much easier to say you’re part of the solution.