In 2021, Time magazine named Elon Musk its “Person of the Year” after he disrupted the car market, revitalized the space industry, and funded a $100 million competition aimed at advancing climate technologies that could remove carbon dioxide from the air and oceans.
However, Musk won’t be attending Time’s event in New York City this Wednesday, where the winners of the climate competition will be announced. The $50 million grand prize will go to Mati Carbon, a startup based in Houston, founded three years ago, that uses crushed rocks in collaboration with subsistence farmers to capture climate pollution.
The reason for Musk’s absence at the pivotal event remains unclear, and neither he nor Time have responded to requests for comment. The XPrize for Carbon Removal will be revealed at the Time100 Summit, an annual event featuring influential figures from various sectors.
While leading Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has also become a major figure in President Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce federal government size, including slashing climate-related funding for research and projects.
Nikki Batchelor, who led the Musk-funded carbon removal competition at the XPrize Foundation, commented on the complexity of Musk’s position, noting his previous role as a leading voice in clean energy innovation. She stated, “We’ve continued on with that,” despite Musk’s evolving political views.
Since its inception, the XPrize has made significant strides in carbon removal technologies, with the top winners having demonstrated the ability to capture and lock away large amounts of CO2. Despite these advancements, some critics argue that Musk’s recent political alignment undermines the efforts of the climate contest.
Musk’s commitment to carbon capture was solidified in 2021 with a tweet announcing a $100 million prize, sparking a surge of interest in innovative carbon removal solutions. This was followed by significant investments in commercial-scale carbon removal, such as the launch of Climeworks’ direct air capture plant in Iceland. Additionally, the U.S. passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, providing funds for carbon removal hubs.
Despite these advances, Musk’s political leanings have drawn criticism. Environmental experts like Wil Burns have argued that Musk has shifted from being an ally of carbon removal efforts to potentially hindering progress due to his current political stance, particularly with his criticism of government agencies like USAID and his opposition to federal climate initiatives.
The XPrize’s shift away from Musk could signal a new direction for the carbon removal industry. Batchelor emphasized that, despite the distractions surrounding Musk, the contest’s success marks significant progress in the fight against climate change.
While the funding and publicity Musk provided for the contest have been crucial, some critics believe that the industry’s reliance on Musk’s involvement has tainted the effort. As the XPrize Foundation moves forward, it hopes to continue focusing on scaling carbon removal solutions, irrespective of Musk’s controversial political influence.