<
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2024/apr/26/environment-groups-accuse-masterchef-of-greenwashing-after-gas-sponsorship-deals-unveiled>
"Environmentalists have accused the hit reality TV show
MasterChef Australia
of greenwashing after the Network Ten program announced sponsorship deals with
gas companies.
The official sponsors for
MasterChef’s 16th season include the Australian Gas
Network (AGN), a subsidiary of Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, which
delivers gas to more than two million homes and businesses.
The deal was revealed at the season launch on Monday. Gas industry
representatives and Paramount, Network Ten’s owner, said the show would use
open flame cooktops that run on biomethane in general competition and compete
in a barbecue challenge on grills that use hydrogen. The biomethane is supplied
by Jemena, which owns gas pipelines and distribution networks, and AGN.
Biomethane is created from organic waste such as human or animal waste or food.
It otherwise has the same properties as fossil gas, but proponents argue it is
more environmentally friendly than fossil fuels because it is releasing carbon
that is already in the biological cycle, and has not been extracted from the
ground.
The hydrogen used on
MasterChef is “grey hydrogen” made using gas through a
process known as steam methane reforming, and also leads to emissions into the
atmosphere. A
MasterChef Australia website said the emissions would be offset
by buying carbon credits. It said renewable hydrogen, which has zero emissions,
was “intended for use in future seasons”.
Conservation groups including Environment Victoria and the Climate and Health
Alliance said they had written to
MasterChef Australia urging them to switch
to induction cooktops, a step taken by
MasterChef programs in the UK, Italy,
Denmark, and Spain.
Environment Victoria’s climate campaign manager, Joy Toose, said the gas
sponsorship deal “only helps to greenwash the gas industry and create a false
impression that biomethane and hydrogen are good replacements for methane gas”.
“Australian Gas Networks have been peddling these gases as solutions to replace
methane gas in an attempt to protect their massive profits – but in reality
they can’t do the job,” she said."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
