Tesla's Sustainability Dreams: A Reality Check

Assessing Tesla's Environmental Impact and Challenges for a Sustainable Future

Elon Musk has ambitious plans to create a sustainable energy Earth, with Tesla at the forefront of the transition to clean energy. Tesla produces electric vehicles, solar panels, and batteries that store renewable electricity, which are all essential components of a clean energy future. However, for Tesla to lead this transition, the company must address its own environmental impact and work towards sustainability and transparency in its operations.

One critical issue is the disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions, which is essential for managing and reducing pollution. Tesla has lagged behind other automakers and tech companies in disclosing its environmental impact and setting targets to curb climate pollution. For comparison, Ford earned an "A" grade for its climate change disclosures in 2019 from the CDP, an organization that evaluates companies' environmental reporting efforts. In contrast, Tesla has consistently received "F" grades for its lack of transparency.

Although Tesla released its 2021 impact report, it still lacks a complete picture of its carbon footprint, including the emissions from its supply chain, which is usually a significant chunk of a company's total footprint. For example, upstream greenhouse gas emissions from EV battery manufacturing create about 80% of the climate pollution from Tesla's Model 3 battery pack, according to the company's impact report. However, Tesla has yet to provide detailed data on the amount of pollution from its supply chain, which is a crucial issue to address for sustainability.

Other potential harms along the supply chain that Tesla must acknowledge include the environmental impact of mining for resources. For instance, the largest planned lithium mine in the US, which recently broke ground in Nevada, has riled nearby tribes and ranchers concerned about environmental fallout. They worry that the mine could destroy sacred and traditional sites, and the area, Thacker Pass, was the site of an 1865 massacre of at least 31 Paiute people by federal soldiers.

While Musk talks about a clear path forward for procuring enough lithium to satisfy the EV industry's growing hunger, the supply chain for cobalt, another essential material for EV batteries, is wrought with allegations of human rights abuses. One of Tesla's cobalt suppliers reportedly makes its miners work physically demanding jobs with little pay, water, or food. These issues must be addressed by Tesla to ensure sustainability and humane production practices.

Moreover, nurturing a healthier environment must also start within Tesla's workplace, as the company has had reports of racism and sexual harassment from employees. Musk has even joked about these allegations on Twitter, which is a problematic issue. Additionally, hate speech and misinformation about climate change have increased on the platform since Musk took over. Tesla must ensure that its operations and leadership align with its sustainability goals and values to avoid the mistakes made by fossil fuels and other extractive industries in the past.

To conclude, it is clear Tesla must address the environmental impact and transparency of its operations, particularly in its supply chain, to achieve a sustainable energy future. Achieving this goal will require transparency and accountability, which have not been a hallmark of Musk's companies. If Tesla is serious about leading the fight against climate change, it must acknowledge and address the fundamental issues that have led to the environmental crisis in the first place.

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