Bezos is making headlines (though that’s more Musk’s thing, right?), and his image has become the center of the environmental debate after he indulged in a $500 million whim… A small superyacht, a little treat that any of us could have!
And it has a name: it’s called Koru, and it’s docked in Fort Lauderdale. 417 feet long, small, not too extravagant (sure). Everything’s going unnoticed… except for its sky-high pollution levels.
It comes with all kinds of luxuries: a pool, gym, a private helicopter, and even a private submarine… when’s he going to use all that? We don’t know, but the superyacht has it all. It has so many things that its ecological footprint is over 7,000 tons of CO₂ a year.
Here’s an anecdote: the yacht tried to dock at Port Everglades but had to settle for parking next to two oil tankers because of its size! An ironic detail, considering this vessel, a symbol of extreme luxury, shares space with other obvious sources of pollution.
A floating city… very expensive
Experts, like anthropologist Richard Wilk, say these yachts are “like hotels that constantly float on water” and that’s exactly how it is. Even when they’re anchored, they require a crew, ongoing maintenance, and a constant energy supply because they’re massive! Koru, Bezos’ yacht, is the perfect example: it has three decks, MTU diesel engines, and an annual maintenance cost of $25 million!!! Not a small amount…
Wilk didn’t hold back, stating that superyacht emissions far exceed those of any other personal transportation method. He also points out that these vessels should be under greater environmental scrutiny, especially in the midst of the climate crisis we’re facing.
Beyond CO₂
Of course, the criticism isn’t just about carbon dioxide. Superyachts like Bezos’ also contribute to noise pollution, light pollution, and wastewater. All of this happens in seas and oceans already severely threatened by human activity. What’s worse is seeing a public figure of this caliber decide to promote such a lifestyle, so detached from sustainability, it creates an uncomfortable contradiction in this age of environmental awareness. But of course, they make you pay to use single-use plastics or drink from paper straws because climate change is the problem of the guy in Wisconsin who doesn’t recycle plastic, not the super-wealthy who buy $300 million yachts…
Example of Bezos’ success or disconnection?
And beyond climate change, it shows a lack of consideration for the communities suffering its devastating effects: wildfires, floods like the ones we’re experiencing, massive heatwaves, and droughts…
Showy excess, ecological inequality (and, of course, economic inequality), but I guess that’s what happens with unchecked capitalism, right? It forgets about ethics and social responsibility… What kind of lifestyle model are figures like him promoting?
Bezos, founder of Amazon and one of the richest people in the world, has invested in green projects like the Bezos Earth Fund, yes, very nice, but these kinds of personal decisions undermine any attempt at consistency.
Can the rich pollute without consequences?
It sure seems like it. As the planet demands urgent action, the decisions of the elites are even worse (and more inconsiderate). Superyachts are no longer just a symbol of wealth, but of a total disconnect from the climate emergency. And more and more voices are calling for stricter regulations or even special taxes on these types of vessels, which consume disproportionate resources to benefit a very few.
