How Google’s starstudded eco-summit became a global joke
Guy Kelly discovers the secrets of Google’s VIP climate-change party that became an international joke
Think of it like a real-life Jason and the Argonauts; an earthly Avengers: Assemble; the greatest meeting of minds, skills and superpowers our planet might ever have seen.
Last week, at a resort on the sun-drenched south-west coast of Sicily, Google convened some of the world’s most brilliant thinkers for its annual, three-day, top-secret summer symposium of ideas. On the agenda were the most pressing issues facing humanity: “Online privacy, politics, human rights,” one source revealed, “and of course, the environment.”
The itinerary included a welcome dinner overseen by Indian celebrity chef Ritu Dalmia at Selinunte Archaeological Park, at which guests were entertained by Coldplay; later, speeches were reportedly given by Naomi Campbell and the Duke of Sussex – the latter of which was conducted “barefoot”.
The great and good came from far and wide: well, actually most of them came from California.
They travelled by any means necessary, too, though principally by private jet or superyacht, because that was likely easiest. Barack Obama and Mark Zuckerberg were reportedly in attendance alongside Google executives, billionaire philanthropists such as Bill Gates and David Geffen; Christine Lagarde, about to become president of the European Central Bank; and no fewer than 200 celebrities.
The ambassador for the rich and famous, George
Clooney, was among them. So were Bradley Cooper and Leonardo DiCaprio, both Clooneys-in-waiting. Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom stopped by. Harry Styles came with Diane von Furstenberg, and even Tom Cruise popped in – but he’s never one to miss a secretive gathering of people with great teeth. In fact, just about anybody could have been there. The Italian media, knowing non-disclosure agreements and social media bans would make claims impossible to verify, had a field day plucking VIP names from thin air, including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (whose attendance was firmly denied by representatives).
Now in its seventh year, past “Google Camps” have seen Malala Yousafzai, Lakshmi Mittal and Sir Elton John join discussions. Prince Harry also visited in 2017. This year, guests were put up in the exclusive, at least £700-per-night Verdura Resort, which boasts two 18-hole golf courses, a tennis academy, and one mile of private coastline. Mornings involve serious meetings, where the likes of Johnny Depp and Thierry Henry can solve global human rights issues with Stella McCartney and Nick Jonas. Evenings are for entertainment; Spanish singer Rosalía, who this year performed at Glastonbury, was one act booked. The finer details remain unclear: Google Camp is so clandestine that it has been compared to the Bilderberg meetings of global business leaders, politicians and diplomats. Others have nicknamed it “Davos-by-the-sea” for its opulent gathering of the world’s most influential people. And the irony of the world’s wealthiest people holding a conference about climate change after arriving in, reportedly, 114 private jets, a fleet of superyachts and private cars, wasn’t lost on commentators. Perhaps Harry went shoeless to decrease the size of his footprint…? “Scores of celebrities and the rich have arrived in Sicily for a Google conference. They came in 114 private jets and a flotilla of superyachts. The conference is on global warming,” scoffed Andrew Neil on Twitter. The rough idea of Google Camp – that rich people are willing to meet and discuss how best to direct their unimaginable wealth for the good of the planet – is, at its core, lauda laudable. And using the lure of celebrities to convince billionaires to attend an otherwise dull serie series of networking sess sessions is a tactic as old as the hills. But equally true is th that they could have all met from home using Han Hangouts, Google’s video ch chat software.
S Still, tonight, as you tuc tuck your children into be bed and watch their eyes we well up with fear about the hopeless future of ou our planet, you can lean in a and whisper: “There’s no need to cry, darling, it it’s all going to be OK. Bra Bradley Cooper, Legolas an and that woman who inv invented the wrap dress had brunch.”
Google Camp is so clandestine… it has been nicknamed Davos-by-the-sea