Before His 180 On Climate Change, Elon Musk Advocated For Action, Cautioning That Oceanfront Real Estate Values Would Plummet

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Elon Musk wasn’t always the polarizing figure we see today in climate discussions. Once celebrated as a green-tech pioneer, Musk was vocal about the urgent need to combat climate change. In 2006, he described Tesla’s mission as a way to “help expedite the move from a mine-and-burn hydrocarbon economy toward a solar electric economy.” In 2015, he warned of the devastating consequences of delaying this transition. “The worst case,” he said, “is more displacement and destruction than all the wars in history combined.”

At the time, Musk painted a grim picture of the future if humanity failed to act. He specifically talked about the dangers of rising sea levels, warning that oceanfront property would become “a lot less valuable” as floods destroyed homes and businesses.

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In his first appearance on the Joe Rogan Podcast in 2018, Musk stressed how strong the scientific agreement on climate change is, saying, “The scientific consensus is overwhelming. I mean, I don’t know any serious scientists – zero, literally zero – who don’t think that we have quite a serious climate risk that we’re facing.”

His past concerns align with findings from a Climate Central study, which revealed that nearly 650,000 parcels of oceanfront property in the U.S. currently sitting on dry land will be at least partially submerged within 30 years due to rising sea levels. This shift will devastate property owners and strain cities and counties that rely on property taxes to fund schools, emergency services and utilities.

Insurance giant Swiss RE warned in 2021 that climate change could cut the world economy by $23 trillion in 2050, equivalent to 14 percent of global economic output.

Fast forward to today and Musk’s rhetoric on climate change has undergone a dramatic shift. In an August conversation with Donald Trump on X, Musk downplayed the urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels, suggesting the world has “plenty of time” to act.

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He even described the risk of climate change as “not as high as a lot of people say it is,” framing the issue in terms of discomfort from high CO2 levels instead of catastrophic dangers scientists have long warned about. This change in attitude has left people wondering why Musk, who once called for urgent action, now seems so dismissive.

Musk’s pivot has not gone unnoticed. Critics point to his embrace of right-wing politicians and climate denialism as a key factor. On X (formerly Twitter), a platform he owns, climate scientists have been leaving in droves, citing a surge in misinformation about global warming. Musk’s partner in DOGE, the prospective agency tasked with cutting government costs, Vivek Ramaswamy, previously called climate change a “hoax.”

Musk’s behavior presents a conflicting image. On the one hand, Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) has revolutionized the electric vehicle market and Musk’s endeavors, such as the $100 million Xprize for carbon removal, demonstrate his dedication to creative solutions. However, his personal carbon footprint undermined his message, as his private jet logged a whopping 441 flights in 2023, emitting 5,159 tonnes of CO2, according to JetSpy.

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Then there’s his claim that CO2 levels would only become a problem at 1,000 parts per million (ppm), much higher than today’s 420 ppm. Scientists quickly debunked this, explaining that society would collapse long before CO2 reached those levels, as extreme weather, rising sea levels and food shortages would create chaos. Musk’s mix-up of indoor air quality standards with outdoor atmospheric CO2 measurements shows a serious misunderstanding of basic science.

This evolution – or perhaps devolution – has left many wondering: What changed? Some suggest Musk’s interests now lie more in maintaining relationships in conservative circles than in driving climate advocacy. For example, President-elect Donald Trump said climate change is not “the biggest threat” and claimed it would create “more oceanfront property.” Others speculate that his sprawling business empire and the demands of his ventures have pulled him away from his once-clear mission.