Honest Government Ad | Net Zero by 2050 (feat. Greta)
Surprise!
You probably weren't expecting a brand new Honest Government Ad so soon after the last one. But history is happening right now and so here's a brand new Honest Government Ad.
Our previous HGA about COP26 focused on the Australian Government - which is among the shittest of the lot. But even Governments that are doing well compared to Australia, are still doing way too little about this emergency.
And that's why I decided to reprise our non-denominational Government™ character - whom we last saw in 2020 with The Machine. This HGA is also a sequel of sorts to our very first Government™ HGA: We're F***ed.
I love writing for this character. It's not just a break from the shitfaced smirkiness of the Australian Government. It also gives us a chance to really take a broader perspecive on humanity. And it's a different type of honesty: whilst the Australien Government Ads are honest in a "fuck-you" kind of way, these Government™ are honest in a "we're fucked" kind of way - if you know what I mean. Almost like a plea for help. So I enjoy switching it up.
Anyway, enough of my literary musings.
I was inspired to write this HGA by Greta.
She was asked in an interview what would success look like to her at COP26. And she replied: [I paraphrase] success for me would be if governments could be honest about the climate crisis, because then we have a hope of dealing with it. (I can't find the interview now, but here's an article about it)
And it suddenly dawned on me - hey, I make this series called "Honest Government Ads" ...I might be able to help here.
So I wrote this Honest Government Ad.
And then I asked Greta if she'd be in it. I didn't really want to trouble her (coz in my mind she's busy kicking ass all day) but she replied with a cheerful: "Hi! Of course! Audio or video?" (I said hell yeah, video please).
She must get a hundred requests every day, but she made the time because she really values our work. She told me (and this time I am direct quoting): "Thank you for all that you do! I'm a huge fan of your videos!"
Well, I wanted to share that with all of you - our Patrons. Because what we do here is only possible thanks to your combined support.
Apart from addressing Greta's wish for honesty - I also wanted this HGA to explain how "Net Zero by 2050" - that slogan we keep hearing from governments now - fits into this framework of governments being honest (ie. how it functions as a substitute for honesty).
And I also wanted to use this opportunity to help people understand the concept of cumulative emissions - ie. how there's a massive difference in terms of risk and damage to the global climate system between acting fast and acting slowly; between taking the "honest" path (ie. going hard and early, at least halving emissions by 2030) and the "Australian Way" (ie. doing nothing until the last minute).
If you'd like to better understand this concept make sure to read this piece by Tim Baxter wwhich explains it in a brilliant and funny way. It's a critical concept, yet not very widely known - which of course benefits fossil-fuel interests and their political stooges.
Ok, that's it from me for now.
I hope you enjoy this Honest Government Ad - which your contributions have made possible - and I'll catch you soon for the podcast companion!
Also a big hello to all our new Patrons here - welcome aboard!
Giordano & team
LINKS:
Link to YouTube video
Link to Facebook video
Link to Twitter video
Comments (43)
and human carbon emissions are .0000009% of the total world natural carbon emissions so net 0 will do a lot I think we need more carbon taxes
Yeh it’s great the professor that investigated Globel warming came to the conclusion that the world has been cooling down since the great though after the last ice age
@kim I love that level of Zoe anger!
This is wonderful. Possibly one of your best ever. (Still can’t quite match the fabulous “Turning Off The Machine” pandemic 2020, which is my all time favourite, but this one is still pretty amazing.) Btw I particularly like your ads where this actor is the narrator - I think she’s brilliant and channels this perfectly. Feel a bit bad saying this, as your other presenter is great as well - but she comes across as too nice for this level of satire! (Now I’ve probably insulted this narrator as well! But she does such a great job in this particular role.)
lol thanks for the feedback Amanda! :D
congrats on the Greta cameo! I wish you guys had the budget of Fox News.
Damn good content as always! Depressing AF but getting the message out there.
Last add you'll ever make since we're all fucked? Haha.... 😂😭😭😭😭😭😭
and if you look at CO2 e (equivalent) we are so much fuckeder.
this is a real LEVELLING UP video. Bloody well done guys. Seriously excellent - Sharing everywhere.
I agree it's a new milestone Wendy - thank you for noticing!
Name the problem to solve and the profit-centered mindset will inevitably find the best ways to drag it out until it can either bury the concern in disinformation or capitalize on it. In the meantime, don't upset the shareholders.
Truly, you are an amazingly talented team. Two moments of pure genius: 1. THAT graph, which says it all really. 2. GRETA
Thanks Richard!
The cameo by Greta was a great touch. Well done on getting that 👏👏👏
Thanks Anthony. How cool is she for doing that!
I don't ever want to see Zoe that angry again. :(
Me neither lol - i had to watch 23 takes of that!
Bam!! Next level awesome. Ive been trying to decode the latest shitfuckery but the graph made it very clear! Thanks again guys. X (and Greta!!!!)
Thanks Charlie!
Loved your succinct summary: "...we're captured by the fossil fuel industry, compromised by our moral failings and lack of vision, and probably going to get us all killed." Tragic.
probably?
Even more excellent work 👏
Cheers Jarrod!
That awkward moment at a COP summit when you act like a tin pot dictator and corrupt stooge in front of the world by bringing along your fossil fuel mates/people who bribed you to set up a stand promoting 'clean coal' and natural gas mining.....and everyone else brought along their wind and solar industry reps for their stalls.... Morrison is a legend in his own mind and wishes he could be like Victor Orban with his not so quasi dictatorship in Hungary - where he rewrote their constitution to write himself into perpetual power. If anyone gave Morrison a large enough majority though, you know he'd do it instantly. Instead all he has are rorts, bribes, media support/control, and gerrymandering. Close enough? I hope not. Maybe we'll be 'allowed' to have another Labor party breather/fairness delusion for 3 years before another 10-15 years of more Libs.
Well done! Great to get Greta on board and it must be heartening to have her strong support.
Thank you Sally. And yes it means so much to all of us honestly! :)
Excellent job.
And a bonus lesson on integration!
What a terrific graph, Giordano & team! Sadly, it says it all…
Thanks Diana!
Love the cameo by Greta!
Thank you for the great and important work from another non-Aussie. Related, just saw this explainer, “What's the difference between 1.5°C and 2°C of global warming?” https://www.reuters.com/business/cop/whats-difference-between-15c-2c-global-warming-2021-11-07/
Thanks Kevin!
Truly epic! I've already commented when you released the audio to us yesterday. In summary: Brilliant work and I particularly like the fact you kept it "country neutral" ... recyclable in any political domain. Spot on messaging - particularly pointing out that alternative .... honesty. Awesome job!
Thank you Robert! And thank you for your continued awesome support of our work, we are truly grateful!
It’s brilliant, but I always have a sense of pathos knowing how true it all is, delivered with such perfect, devastating wit and quality :)
I so appreciate all that you do, and I'm not even an 'Aussie' 😍
Aww thank you Adriana! Sadly many of the problems we talk about are not confined to our government. If only!
That turned out a treat, hilariously infuriating as ever :) Explaining cumulative emissions was a great idea, I think that the graph/s really push the point home. Really ties in well with how disingenuous the Net0x2050 slogan actually is. Super stoked that your surprise guest was Greta, that must have been a buzz for you and the team. Pete
Thanks Pete! Yeah, I really wanted to try and use this video to not just bag NetZero but actually give people a *click* insight nto why it's such a problem. I'm really stoked with this one! And Greta of course turned it into a magical unicorn at the end haha :)
Great job as always :) Amazing getting Greta on board too! Glad to hear she is a fan as well :)
Thanks Aaron!