Yup, risk other peoples lives to create and test the tech to try and ride out the climate apocalypse.

that's dumb tho, earth is going to be far nicer than mars for at least the next century. Musk can always build a billion dollar bunker in the middle of bumfuck canada

if he actually wants a mars colony, the reason is to serve as a backup for in case earth's atmosphere gets so bad that you can't even breathe anymore.

once his instruments clock in 1000 ppm CO2 he'll hit the launch button outside his bunker with him (or his progeny if he's dead by then) inside it