Elon Musk's Sustainability Stumble: Why the Tesla Titan Missed the Forbes Sustainability Leaders List

The Forbes Sustainability Leaders List is a prestigious recognition of individuals who have made significant and ongoing contributions to environmental sustainability. However, one notable absence from this year's list is Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and a pioneer in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. This article explores the reasons behind Musk's exclusion and the challenges he has faced in maintaining his sustainability leadership.

Powering the Future, Losing Momentum

The Rise and Decline of Tesla

When Tesla introduced the Roadster in 2008, it revolutionized the perception of electric vehicles, making them cool and desirable. As the company continued to deliver new models, it spurred the auto industry to accelerate their own EV development. This has been a significant achievement for the environment, as transportation accounts for over 20% of total carbon emissions in the United States.However, the Forbes Sustainability Leaders List is not a lifetime achievement award. It focuses on individuals who have made an ongoing impact in the past two years. By this metric, Musk has fallen short. Tesla's profits have declined for four consecutive quarters, and the company has lost its undisputed leadership in the electric car industry. China-based BYD now manufactures more electric vehicles, and its CEO and founder, Wang Chuanfu, has been included on the list.

The Cybertruck Conundrum

One of the most significant missteps for Musk and Tesla has been the Cybertruck. Since its introduction in 2019, the Cybertruck has been plagued by delays, manufacturing issues, and general mockery. It started shipping last fall, years later than promised, but fewer than 20,000 have made it into the hands of customers. The Cybertruck has already been recalled four times, and videos of manufacturing failures have gone viral on social media. Even if the Cybertruck's rollout had been flawless, it would still have sustainability concerns due to the large amounts of energy, aluminum, and materials required to produce the massive vehicles compared to other EVs.

Missed Deadlines and Shifting Priorities

Tesla's other products have also faced setbacks. The Tesla Semi is years behind schedule, leaving customers waiting while rivals in the commercial fleet market are fulfilling orders and growing their delivery totals. Rivian's success in its line of delivery vans, for example, helped land its founder and CEO, RJ Scaringe, on the Forbes Sustainability Leaders List.Furthermore, Musk has shifted his focus away from sustainability efforts. He has dismantled significant parts of Twitter's trust and safety team and loosened restrictions against misinformation, leading to a surge in climate denialism on the platform. Additionally, SpaceX, Musk's space exploration company, has faced government inquiries regarding its environmental record, with allegations of repeatedly violating the Clean Water Act.

Backtracking on Sustainability Commitments

Perhaps most concerning, Musk seems to have lost interest in leading the way on environmental and sustainability issues. Earlier this year, Tesla removed the company's 2006 climate manifesto from its website, in which Musk had stated his aim to "help expedite the move from a mine-and-burn hydrocarbon economy towards a solar electric economy." In a recent conversation with former President Trump, Musk even backtracked on those ambitions, suggesting there's "no rush" for a sustainable economy because the impacts of climate change won't be severe enough to worry about until atmospheric carbon dioxide reaches much higher levels than exist today.