Branson To Invest $3 Billion to Fight Global Warming

This man has built an empire from branding petroleum products, and selling them as a 'lifestyle' choice. He has ripped of countless british entrepreneurs, cosied up to big government to gain big contracts, and now we have hime grabbing more media attention from a frankly obvious problem for his business.

Scratch the surface and you'll see that airlines and trains are not really that profitable - the $3billion certainly isn't the profit from these entities over ten years - not without some seriously dodgy accounting.

This emperor has no clothes, he is a maverick marketeer, sitting on a bubble empire, inflated by the breath of lazy media. Please don't give him the oxygen of pubicity - he's only ever expelled CO2 and methane from his activities.

Actually I quite like Branson. I first learned about Branson through Peter Senge. Branson definitely provides a good case study for building businesses with a different set of ideas and philosophy. He treats his employees as though they were human beings and not as cogs in a wheel. Gasp! What will other business types do when they find that out?

Well, I used to drive an SUV. Now I drive a hybrid. We need to remember that not everyone is able to make changes because of their situation or resources available, but when they recognize that they can contribute, the point is that they step up to the plate and make it so. I applaud Branson for becoming an agent of change. Maybe he'll rub off on his other influential friends in positions of power.

I think this is great news. The size of the donation is over half of his personal wealth! (I believe Branson said he'd give $3 billion even if the profits from the travel companies did not reach this value)

So what's in it for Virgin? Well oil's not going to last forever, so looking at solutions like ethanol is an essential step to keep the planes and trains running, long term. Also the investment into the green economy will most probably be very profitable for Virgin.

But does it matter that it is not entirely selfless? I don't think it does. Investing this much to help develop sustainable energy solutions can only be a good thing, from any angle.

It is really encouraging to see business moving in a green direction. Hopefully this will tempt other companies to make similar moves. If only governments could lead the way, the greening process would be a whole lot faster.

Where have I seen that picture?

Come to Daddy.

first of all ... it aint no donation ... nothing philanthropic gestures here ... its just a straight business decision .. good enough though

first and foremost branson is doing this because he can see the big money opportunity ... and perhaps the threat that the airline industry is coming under from the environmental movement and governments

hes also knows its a staff morale issue ... he has to keep his team onboard with meaning in the workplace ... employees want more from their work these days ... and creating climate change for a living is soul destroying

then of course theres the reality facing the whole airline industry that flying is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions and completely unsustainable ... the whole short haul flight industry are waking up to this now ... branson has seen the opportunity here too ... lets get these short haul folk on his trains ... right on

but his investment decision must brave some serious integrity issues ... he talks about ethanol/biofuels for the future of the airline fuel ... but this presents some grave environmental risks, as covered v well by this weeks new scientist magazine

and then theres virgin galactic of course

fundamentally i hope that branson may have woken up to the fact that it doesnt matter how much good you try to do saving lives in africa from hiv etc ... because the main thing you have to do is ensure that africa is a viable proposition for people to live in, given the devastating effect climate change has already had there, and will have evenmoreso in the forthcoming decades

lets hope bill gates and warren buffett also invest in climate change solutions too, or their huge philanthropic efforts will be like spitting in the wind

this is the end game

welcome branson ... but get it right you PR and profit mongering opportunist

now give us a masterclass in tackling climate change

not a donation .. a straight business investment ... good enough

a staff morale booster ... essential ... creating climate change for a living is demoralising

biofuels/ethanol ... v dodgy ... see this weeks new scientist

virgin galactic ... even dodgier

get people off of short haul flights and onto virgin trains ... right on

10 years ... too long ... tipping point approaching much sooner

another PR masterclass

but get this one right branson and the world will truly love you

saving lives in africa from hiv etc is wonderful ... but tackling climate change is the bottom line ... or saving lives from other causes is like spittining in the wind ... africa is feeling the brunt of climate change big time

lets hope bill gates and warren buffett wake up to this soon too

give a masterclass in championing climate change branson ... for real ... not just the PR

your life is your legacy

so far, by large, its been ego centric opportunistic capitalism and gross oppulence

if you succeed, maybe your private island may be spared from sea level rise

aferall, flying is now oficiallly a sin

and god is watching

send him your CV when you feel ready

Anon British Coward, I think you are being a bit harsh on Branson. Cmon £1.6bn, at least he is trying to make his fleet more environmentally friendly. Its far more than I hear from any other air travel company.
We are not going to get anywhere if we criticise people for making a move but not being perfect, we all gotta start somewhere.

Adrenaline:

I too applaud Branson's efforts, but more importantly I applaud efforts like your own.

Kudos to Branson, his heart is in the right place, however, he needs to better spend his resources. Bio ethanol is not an environmentally friendly fuel. This and hydrogen technologies are supported by ‘Big Oil’ because they know that this is a distraction and not a solution and are not threatened by it. There is not enough land on the planet to support the world’s energy demands. There are other technologies that have been proven over 75 years ago and have subsequently been snuffed out. ‘Big Oil’ does not want people to know about these because it would have them shaking in their britches. Branson needs to grow some {explicative} and begin fighting the good fight by funding some of these technologies that are in desperate need of funding. These are truly clean energy and could literally transform the planet overnight and provide energy to all, including third world countries. Example: ‘Pulsed Abnormal Glow Discharges’ – The Correa’s sought funding for over a decade to continue development of there vacuum tube oscillator that converted energy directly from atomic to electric with no radioactive biproducts. http://www.rexresearch.com/correa/correa.htm#5449989 This is based on technology developed by T. H. Moray in the 1930s. http://www.rexresearch.com/moray2/morayrer.htm

This technology has also been most closely understood and reproduced by Bruce A. Perreault http://nuenergy.org/

Branson wants your soul

Branson will eat your soul

Come to Branson

seriously, though, how great would it be if all the world's richest folks donated $3 billion in renewable tech?!? clearly, he should be applauded for this, regardless of his motivation or if the money isn't going exactly where we'd like it to...

Sean, I think you're right, though Branson is investing, not donating.

come to daddy indeed.

this is a TEN YEAR investment too.

it amounts to peanuts in the grand scheme. and it is a giant distraction to keep you flying ... keep you consuming.

hold your breath and look out for the delivery.

if you need a hero, be a hero and stay off them planes.

when branson truly delivers, get back in the check-in queue.

dont be the disaster.

Hi,

I wanted to share an idea of mine to stop or slow the Arctic from melting. It revolves around the concept of replacing and keeping the caps frozen so they continue to serve as the earth’s natural air conditioning units. I don't know if this will work but thought that it is worth mentioning to people who know more about global warming.

So here goes — What if we transport and add more earth, dust, and/or some kind of environmentally safe alcohol material into the Arctic region to serve as crystallization nuclei in the water freezing process. Next the dust and/or alcohol solution is mixed with water also transported back to the Arctic by us. The water mixed with dust and/or alcohol solution is frozen in layers and piled high by us by reviewing past images of the caps pre-global warming. These restored caps should remain frozen in the warmer climate caused by the global warming, thus retarding or removing the global warming eventually.

My idea is to rebuild the polar caps artifically by man and restores our earth’s natural air conditioning units.

Positive point - materials used dust/alcohol and water exist naturally in our environment. We are just bringing them together since water on dust and/or alcohol freezes at temperatures much warmer than water freezing point (0 degree Celcius).

Yes technically it will be so to speak “polluting” the Arctic but does it need to be pure? Retaining purity of the caps or artifically restoring of the caps and its air-conditioning effect on the earth which is better for our planet’s future? Methods of purifying water already exists. I think that restoring the Arctic ice caps should happen sooner and along with our other approaches to solving the global warming problem.

Thank you in advance for considering my idea.

Sincerely,
Lisa Baptiste

Perhaps Sir Richard Branson should think about competing for the Green Riband (www.greenriband.org) - awarded for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe using zero emission transportation. Fuel cells, bio fuels, wind, solar etc...

good idea richard bennet

have you seen spurt aviation's new campaign for unlimited aviation growth?

check it out - www.unlimited-spurt.org

Good day to you all ( and do not forget to enjoy it)

Why are people so negative? The principle of doing something to improve, or something less damaging is a good concept I would have thought. That Richard makes the headlines with this "news" is the other side of the coin. So what? That is part of our world. If it makes the world a better place I can live with that "downside". I hope that the negative responders are also active in improving the CO2 ballance in their lives.
We are seeing the beginning of a campaign that will influence and affect our lives in the next years. The best way to go about decreasing CO2 is doing something about it yourself. But we have to keep in mind that we are only part of the world ( the part that is ((to))well fed and with the money )We could ask ourselfes how we are going to help them as well.

What have you been smoking Lisa? put some vodka in your freezer,you will find it wont freeze, good onya Branson!

May I suggest that part of the investment go to bicycle! Give everybody a bike and ask them bike to work or shop at least one day a week! If not, give a ticket of 20 or do community work!

Don't forget to give me a great mountain bike!

i think whatever there is done, i guess we are already over a certain point... the climate already changed... still our economies must keep growing... shouldn't we start asking why the economy must keep growing, why don't we invest in helping out developping countries. i don't believe in alternative technologies. i believe we have to take a few steps back. change to biking, eating organically vegs, starting to live in communities... all of these things will bring us back where we really need to be. slowing ourselves down. a more simple life with less but better foods which we grow locally. we really don't need more chemical alternatives. we just need to become less artificial and more natural. are you cold put on another sweater; go outside, live outside, wash yourself with cold water. we are just spoiled with all our luxuory. the west suffers obesitas and the south is starving because of not enough food. doesn't that say enough. it is not just about a climate change. everything around us is just showing how far we went out of balance. and there is only one word for why things are as they are: GREED. somewhere in time we have become greedy and we didn't change... all the religions of the world haven't been able to change that. no, they became greedy themselves... if anything has to change it is us and our look upon life. whether you are Richard Branson or not. we will soon feel the effects of climate change, everything will be more expensive, we will have to change our lifestyle... the main question is whether we are ready to change our lifestyle, and to give up our very individualistic way of thinking?

I am again and again surprised at how many people can jump up and say "bad bad" when a wealthy individual or company decides to put some money or effort into a good cause. I cannot see why would it be considered morally so advanced for anybody to critizise the heck out of an issue and all along using certain age old stereotypes? People, grow up and get a life. Stereotypes are exactly what we do not need if we want to advance as a species and if we want have a future that is worth living for!

yes lisa WHAt have u been smoking?
people are so quick to bash others down - what have you done to help global warming? have you changed cars - have you planted a tree? have you invested 3 billion in better feuls? i dont think so.
At least he is one huge influential person who can actually set an example and DO something rather than just sitting on his fat lazy ass eating his McDonalds. Which by the way contibutes to global warming in more ways than you can possibly imagine. Its evil. It should be illegal.

Hey Boys and Girls, let's add a new celebration day to our life:

Walking Day!

A day for everybody to walk freely everywhere! Even on Highway!

What a freedom?! A good life to feel the sensation of your own legs to carry you anywhere you wish to go! WOW

Let's do it!

please do invest! as Al Gore stated at the end of his film: plant trees.
That's what I do btw: drop me a line on my site...

As a man once said "We would refrequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them" So does that make Bransons decision any less of a good idea because he stands to profit by it? Ultimately it is humanity and the planet that benefits from this new way of thinking. In the future our well being will be more important than money, unfortunately at the moment it is not.

Okay, so maybe EVERYTHING this guy does isn't squeaky-clean perfect...MAYBE he's exaggerating how much money will actually go to the environment....and MAYBE he's spinning this as a completely selfless act due to the fact that he's concerned about small children and baby seals...so what? WAKE UP PEOPLE!!! You live in a FREE MARKET ECONOMY....one in which we seem proud to have defended through history. Richard Branson may be a lot of things but he is a great entrepreneur who has used (and possibly shaped) the system to his advantage many times. Now he is going to focus his entrepreneurial might towards environmental issues and you are complaining?? At least Lisa is trying to solve the problem, the question is really, "what are the rest of you smoking??". Its about time someone figured out how to make some money by saving the planet!!!

Hello everyone:

It is always amazing to see how easily we target those with money and influence when they offer partial solutions rather than the complete cure.

Profit is not always a bad thing - i.e. it has provided a funds resource for a worthwhile cause - $3 billion the cause previously did not have. By assuming a role in a movement, one often becomes increasingly invested on a person level - is it worth considering that if Mr Branson profits from this exercise, he may be motivated to invest even further and more creatively in like-minded ventures?

It aso becomes more attractive to others to increase their environmental awareness and responsiveness when one in their own 'circle', or even one whom they admire from afar, lends credibility to the issue.

If I do not agree with specific practices and the results of those (and I have to admit I have not followed Mr Branson's story) I prefer to preserve my own credibility by debating those items clearly and directly, rather than by using a broad-brush dismissive approach.

I say it behooves us to be aware of our personal motives when lashing out, lest we alienate those who may help in even the slightest way.

Love him or loathe him, at least he has made SOME effort (even if it is for the publicity).

This is an issue we ALL have to take responsibility for and if it takes RB to make some people wake up, so be it!

I think it's a little insensible to knock Ricard Branson for mobilizing the corporate world to do something good for the planet.

And fwiw, if the corporate world doesn't jump on the bandwagon... who will?

Our governments? Don't make me laugh.

If anything, this is living proof "the problem" is real.

This alone should be enough to send shivers down everybody's spine because if our current planet goes into an ice age, we unfortunately have no backup alternative to perpetuate human life.

In these crucial times of scientifically proven climate crisis, anyone not concerned by the sorry state of the world's environment should think again.

Lets face it ....car manufacturers can make vehicles that are both economical and non-fossil fuel using ..........its just GREED and LAZINESS

Example : in the uk today petrol engines are 16v fuel injected , electronic ignition BUT you get less miles per gallon than before (average 35 mpg )

OIL companies are churning out these fossil fuels but when the oil runs out ( assuming we are still around by then ) what extraordinary "new" fuels are these companies going to unveil ??

We have biofuels NOW ..... lets use them !!

The fact that he is donating the income (100%) from a nasty thing like the air travel industry - to the good cause of finding and funding alternative fuels, deserves applause. 3 Billion is a lot of money, no matter how you say it.
Maybe he can afford it, but I don't see other people who can afford it doing the same sort of thing. Good on him.

What's with all that suspicious negative energy anyways? Sheesh.

In response to Richard Bennett's suggestion(s), one must first applaud the forward-thinking ideas presented at www.greenriband.org. Igniting creative minds via contests, such as the one that the aforementioned website/group presents, merits all who are concerned about our very existence as a species to at the very least consider the possibilities of living in harmony with, as opposed to systematically destroying, that which gave all species on this planet life. The Earth.

Humanity as a whole cannot dismiss the simple fact that we all come from within nature (read: Earth), because it is within the confines of this planet that the human species is able to flourish, thus attesting to the truthfulness of the statement that nature gives us life.

Nonetheless, there arises a question of the veracity of the statement(s) that biofuels are a true 'zero emission' fossil-fuel alternative, dependent of course upon the standardized or agreed upon definition of said category of fuels (biofuels).

Do biofuels not require combustion in order to release their stored energies, which in turn power whatever device is being operated?

If so, consider the effect that the addition of the byproducts of biofuel combustion will have upon the environment. Regardless of how 'clean' the biofuels burn, there will continue to be a net negative cumulative effect upon the environment.

However, to dismiss biofuels as impractical lends credence to ignorant mindsets, which must be avoided to ensure a fully complete (as best as is possible for this given moment in humanity's progression) approach to ensuring not only the survival, but also the proliferation of the species.

Regardless of the motivation or underlying objectives of both Sir Richard Branson's $3 billion monetary gifting as well as his $25 million challenge to the general populace, this gesture at the very least invites intellectual study, while hopefully bringing recognition of the fact that the human species must work together towards a common goal, that being survival, to ENSURE our survival as a species.

If attainable, this goal will subsequently improve the human condition immeasurably.

If that goal is not realized at some point in the foreseeable future, then regardless, whatever feeble efforts are attempted to try and 'save' the environment will do naught but placate those who are unable to think outside the box.

It is not only egocentric but also inaccurate to insist that humanity is destroying the environment. Humanity is in actuality degrading the environment 'as we know it', to the point where it (the environment) will be unable to sustain the human species en masse.

Nature will continue to find ways to create life, for this the very essence of that which nourishes humanity, albeit in an altered or evolved fashion. Evolved in the sense that evolution represents change from that which was in the past, which no longer exists due to changes wrought by humanity itself, to that which is the 'now' or that which will be.

So perhaps it would be wiser to impart the extremely important message that humanity is leading itself to the brink of extinction by its negative treatment of the environment, which is our sole sustenance, in order to acquire financial gains. Financial benefits cannot be realized by those who are not alive to appreciate the fruits of their clamoring.

In this way, the more self-centered approach would hopefully create a greater urgency for change, bringing about radical shifts in thoughts, beliefs and ideologies, all of which are necessary to ensure the survival of the human species as a whole.

The Earth is a system, albeit one on a planetary scale, and thus is susceptible to change based upon the sum of the parts of that system, similar to the human body. This should not come as a surprise, as we are one with the Earth and were created from/within it.

To maintain this system for the better, humanity MUST shift its thinking from solely amassing riches and wealth (at the expense of other humans) to one of self-preservation as a species, not individually.

Logically, if the sustenance of a species is altered to such a degree as to wipe out said species, then the primary focus to ensure the survival of that species must be neither material-based nor genetically-dependent, for what good will either be when that species is unable to survive within the confines of the Earth?

Similarly, what good will space exploration/travel do if humanity cannot remedy its negative effects upon the Earth? Would not those same failings follow the species regardless of destination?

Delaying the inevitable would only emphasize the fact that humanity must first learn to work together to solve the failings of that species, or all that the human species has ever known or accomplished is for naught.

To that end, a much more complete solution is needed to ensure the proliferation of the species. Alternative fuels, whether they be biofuels or zero-emission, must be balanced with what amounts to a scrubbing of the atmosphere, among a whole host of changes that are necessary for our survival.

Perhaps it is time to look to the Earth in terms of natural solutions to these environmental crises which threaten our very existence.

Personally, I have some ideas but they would require a radical shift in humanity's thinking, and would require thinking outside the box as never before.

A simple mathematical belief states that if A+B=C, and C-A=B, then therefore C-B=A. If this is to be accepted as a truth, then would it not be equally logical to apply a similar solution-set to our very existence?

Simply put, if

A). We, as a species, pollute the environment to such a degree as to deplete the nutrients humanity requires for survival and
B). We, as a species, are unable to correct our mistakes by radically shifting our ways of thinking (read: Evolution), then
C). We will not survive and all that is human will be forever lost, regardless of social status, financial situation or location upon this planet.

Consider also the rising population rate of this planet as it is expressed in logarithmic form. As a logarithm is charted, it begins benign (relatively small horizontal angle) but quickly transitions into a rapidly expanding graph (exponentially increased horizontal angle upwards), exponentially growing in quantity over a said period. In this case, that period is time.

For those who are unable to envision a mathematical analogy, and for those who remember high-school science class, recall the fruit-fly experiment. A pair of oppositely-sexed fruit-flies are introduced into a nutrient-rich, closed-environment test-tube (however, fresh airflow is necessary) and allowed to procreate and ingest nutrients. For a time, the population slowly grows, then there is a sharp explosion of that populace.

Then, as the population increases while the nutrient source(s) are not replenished, the population plateaus after a given time-frame, and then begins a reversal of the burst of reproduction, and the flies begin to die. Slowly at first, then more quickly as their environment because more toxic due to the pollutants within the flies' waste products being introduced to their environment, but not being cleaned/filtered/removed.

In essence, it is a biological equivalent to one-half a complete Sine wave. Similarly, humanity will parallel the results of the fruit-fly experiment if we do nothing to improve that which we are living within; the system of Earth.

So bravo Sir Richard Branson for push-starting the wave that ensures our survival. Let us hope that it does not succumb to the pitfalls of monetary reward/gain from the ....'movement' if you will.

I only wish I had the funding available to be able to effect change as Sir Richard Branson is trying to do, regardless of intent, because to look to improve the overall condition of the human species is to take the first steps towards the next true level of evolution.

For without that next step, we will all plunge into the abyss that is extinction.

I have 2 ideals for global warming, the only problem is i have not put a patent on them. 2 nd issue for example went into business in las vegas..i was given a fake corporation certifcate..the courts turned there back on every thing..i lost company and legal expensives...i submited a script for literary representation..in Beverly hills..agency starts with ( C ) they returned my letter and scripts..said they wern't accepting unsolicted material. withen the following year or two i got calls later from friends saying i saw you movie on cable...sam title and premise....at the time i could not afford a attorney....thats the trust i have in big corps...i have to say branson and gore i respect for there efforts in wanting to help envoirment my professors were saying that the world is a living organism..signing off...

Quentin

Gore and Branson recently announced a "contest" to encourage people to come up with the best way to remove carbon from the environmental carbon cycle, to diminish the global warming crisis. I would like to know where to submit an idea for this. I haven't had any luck so far trying to find a posting of the "rules and regs", address to send submissions to, or other details about it. I read an article about it on some type of news page a few days ago, but it did not give any of the specifics. A little help please!
Many thanks!
V

I have applied to the Canadian and Ontario government with an appropriate plan to combat organic soil pollution, which was my primary goal, and have through that awareness determined a suitable facon a remover pollution from air, via internal combustion engines, stack scrubbing, and individual sites in polluted areas.

Matt F. Popoff
G7 Enterprises

I have applied to the Canadian and Ontario government with an appropriate plan to combat organic soil pollution, which was my primary goal, and have through that awareness determined a suitable facon a remover pollution from air, via internal combustion engines, stack scrubbing, and individual sites in polluted areas.

Matt F. Popoff
G7 Enterprises

TO whom it may concern , I have the climet change
ansers all off them

I have searched google to find out where to send plans for Branson' s award. I have not found any particulars and have not found where one is supposed to send one's plan. It sounds great to award so much money but how about some information . If anyone can help with this it would be apppreciated. Lis

i wanna be a tree hugger