So I work in cleantech, and here's my favorite climate change joke: They say humans won't act until it's too late... Luckily, it's too late. To me, Musk is ac

So I work in cleantech, and here's my favorite climate change joke: They say humans won't act until it's too late... Luckily, it's too late. To me, Musk is acting like your typical super-smart engineer under a fire drill. Perhaps Musk thinks that we aren't adapting fast enough to the changes in our environment, so he's basically putting every drop of effort he has into trying to engineer solutions. Engineers are a weird bunch. They love fixing problems more than they love money. Also, they recognize the tools available and use them to their advantage. Remember social engineering is still engineering. Perhaps Musk sees capitalism and markets as a tool and is using it to his advantage (having rich people on your side adds to your toolkit). What would you do if we had to switch 87% of our energy sources from fossil fuel[1] to something else in the next 30 years[2]? No really, what would you actually try to engineer to pull it off? Now you're in Musk's mindset. Luckily, that's double-digit trillion dollar opportunity if you can actually pull it off[3], so you can use the markets as a tool (and everyone wins[4]). Musk knows the next Googe will be an energy company[5]. Also, he wants to die on Mars. Everyone's got to have a hobby. [1]: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=11951 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=11951 [2]: http://ar5-syr.ipcc.ch/ipcc/sites/default/files/AR5_SYR_Figure_2.3.png http://ar5-syr.ipcc.ch/ipcc/sites/default/files/AR5_SYR_Figu... [3]: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2015/aug/31/citi-report-slowing-global-warming-would-save-tens-of-trillions-of-dollars https://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97... [4]: http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/5/6/3/What-If-Its-A-Hoax.jpg http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/S/5/6/3/What-If-Its-A-Ho... [5]: http://www.pvsolarreport.com/the-next-internet/ http://www.pvsolarreport.com/the-next-internet/