The context: Karbon Kapucha is visiting one of the largest metal smelting refineries owned by his multi-trillion $ global conglomerate TGD Inc. (Total Global Domination Inc.).
He is accompanied by Envir Protekcha, the company’s redoubtable chief environment & sustainability officer.
Eyeing the massive captive coal power plant providing electricity to run the metal smelter, a 5000 MW brute consuming 50,000 tons of coal a day and emitting a humongous 35 million tons of CO2, Karbon turns to Envir with an insightful look.
Karbon: 35 million tons of CO2 a year, Envir. I’m told this is more than the entire emissions from the power plant providing electricity for Exaltica, the neighbouring city. Is that correct?
Envir: That’s true, Karbon. But this is a massive smelter, you know. Smelters of some of our competitors emit even more CO2.
Karbon is aghast. He is considered the world’s most climate conscious CEO, and here was his own factory, and the factory considered the group’s crown jewel, joyfully belting out gobs of CO2 that a million plus living souls in the neighbouring city of Exaltica could not match.
Something got to be done about this. Yes. And now.
Karbon: You know Envir. I have an idea buzzing in my mind.
Envir stiffens. He had been confronted many times with Karbon’s grand sustainability ideas, and was quite wary of them – especially ideas that buzzed.
Karbon continues – he is a man possessed.
Karbon – We should replace this entire coal fandangle with solar power. And within the next 6 months. And I want the entire solar power plant put up right next to our factory.
Envir experiences multiple gulps.
Envir: You don’t mean chucking out the 5000 MW power plant, Karbon?
Karbon: Chucking out is precisely what I meant.
Envir: But seriously, you cannot do it so fast. This is a massive power plant.
Karbon: Why not, my dear Envir, why for the blooming earth not? We are a massive company. With a massive conscience. And a massive planet-friendly heart.
Envir decides that he should make a switch from emotions to facts.
Envir: I’m just wondering, Karbon, not about money or heart, but about real estate.
It appears to Karbon that he heard “real estate” but given his ageing ears…
Karbon: Did I hear real estate?
Envir: I confirm those were the words.
Karbon: What about real estate?
Envir: It’s just that we may need a very large area to have a solar power plant that can completely replace our 5000 MW giant.
Karbon: Just how much area are we talking about, Envir? Tell me in just a few words what exactly we should acquire for this solar power plant!
Envir is trying to choose his words – or rather, very few words – carefully. He has to give a very short answer.
At last, he gets it.
Envir: The city of Exaltica.