The Footprint Coalition is the new project announced by actor Robert Downey Jr. as a plan to clean up the planet using advanced technology. The project was announced at Amazon’s re:MARS conference in Las Vegas on June 4th. “Between robotics and nanotechnology we could probably clean up the planet significantly, if not entirely, within a decade,” he said. The idea reportedly came from a conversation Downey had at dinner with a group of experts.
Although there haven’t been many details that have been released thus far, Downey stated that he plans to officially launch the project by April 2020. “I’m going to spend the next months putting this together correctly and getting actual smart people around me,” he said. It was found in a recent United Nations report that humans are having an unprecedented and significant effect on global biodiversity, with researchers finding micro plastics polluting the air, ocean, and soil.
“In 11 years, when I’m 65, if we’ve made even a little dent in what I think is a massive threat to our future and the mess we leave behind, I’m going to come back and throw the nuttiest retirement party you’ve ever seen,” Downey added.
Amazon recently found itself under fire for its policies regarding the environment and climate change. This recent artificial intelligence, robotics, and space conference, Amazon’s first, came in lieu of Amazon’s recent image. Almost 8,000 employees signed an open letter regarding a proposal that was shown at its recent shareholders meeting. This was in preparation for a public plan for “disruptions posed by climate change” and reduce its fossil fuel dependence. The proposal was eventually voted down, despite employees’ claims that Amazon’s current efforts to decrease its carbon footprint weren’t enough. It’s also unknown whether or not Amazon is investing financially or technologically in Downey’s project.
