At the Rio+20 conference this week, Richard Branson was everywhere (including two rows behind me on my flight from Houston to Rio -- on United Airlines, for what it's worth). I counted at least a dozen events at which he was the featured speaker -- and, I'm sure, dozens of others not on the official schedule. In almost all cases, he was the charming, reluctant, always quotable headliner.
One of those headlining events was the World Green Summit, where I moderated a session on sustainable cities. I caught up with Sir Richard briefly after the Summit, just long enough to get in three questions -- including two that had to do with "screwing." You'll have to watch the video to find out more.
My letter to the Daily
My letter to the Daily Telegraph about Branson :
Sir,
There were a lot of cameras and microphones in Rio for the UN Conference on Sustainable Development this week, and as expected Sir Richard Branson could be found in front of many of them. He was making sure that we all knew how much we should be doing to save the climate. And what is the happy chappy himself doing?
Suing the EU in an effort to stop progress on UN climate initiatives.
The UN’s International Civil Aviation Organization is responsible for regulating airlines’ carbon pollution and after 15 years of doing nothing Europe has taken the small step of charging $3 per transatlantic passenger for carbon emissions – effective next April. It seems that this small fee is too much for Virgin Atlantic and their jetsetting passengers. So the man that would have all businesses “invest just 1% into clean energy” is taking the EU to court lest he be forced to account for a small part of his business’s emissions.
Perhaps Branson should pick a side before he steps on stage at another sustainability event.
With best regards
Quentin Prideaux
Reference quote : “We need to create incentives and a tax structure that encourages clean energy investment. Companies, even those not working in environment, should invest just 1 percent into clean energy.”
Sir Richard Branson 2006 Keynote luncheon at CGI (Clinton Global Initiative)
Available at the CGI website.