Carbon Pollution from Private Jets Surges by 46% Over Five Years, Study Shows

Carbon emissions from private jets have surged over the past five years. A recent study reveals that these jets emit more carbon dioxide in two hours than an average person does in a year. The study, published in Nature journal Communications Earth & Environment, highlights that the super wealthy, numbering around 250,000 with a combined worth of $31 trillion, emitted 17.2 million tons of carbon dioxide last year.

The emissions from private jets are equivalent to those produced by 67 million people in Tanzania. From 2019 to 2023, emissions from these jets increased by 46%. Researchers analysed over 18.6 million flights involving approximately 26,000 aircraft to arrive at these figures. While private jets contribute only 1.8% of aviation's carbon pollution, aviation as a whole accounts for about 4% of human-caused greenhouse gases.

Impact of Private Jet Emissions

Stefan Gossling, the study's lead author and a transportation researcher at Linnaeus University in Sweden, emphasised the issue of fairness and priorities. "The damage is done by those with a lot of money and the cost is borne by those with very little money," Gossling stated. The highest emitter among private jet users released 2,645 tons of carbon dioxide, which is over 500 times the global per-person average.

Jonathan Westin from Climate Organizing Hub commented on the findings: "This report presents further proof that billionaires are causing the climate crisis." He criticised their continued use of private jets amidst worsening climate events like floods and wildfires. Earlier this year, the International Energy Agency noted that the top 1% of emitters have carbon footprints over 1,000 times larger than the poorest 1% globally.

Events and Celebrity Flights

The study also examined emissions from major global events such as the World Cup in Qatar and the World Economic Forum. These events alone accounted for over 35,600 tons of carbon pollution from 3,500 private jet flights. Jean Su from the Center for Biological Diversity criticised this practice: "It's a grim joke that the billionaire class is flying private jets to the annual climate conferences."

Researchers also looked into more than 1,200 flights by celebrities but did not disclose any names. Gossling noted that many private flights are lifestyle-related rather than business necessities. University of Pennsylvania climate scientist Michael Mann argued that focusing on individual behaviours distracts from systemic changes needed to decarbonise infrastructure.

Addressing Emissions

Gossling highlighted a circular argument where both super-emitters and others deflect responsibility for emissions. He suggested imposing taxes or landing fees equivalent to $200 per ton of emissions to address high-flying emissions. Westin advocated for banning private jets altogether.

The United States is a significant hub for private jets, hosting over 68% of them globally. Alaska leads in private jet flights per capita with nearly 5,000 flights per 100,000 residents. However, Gossling pointed out that private jets are present even in poorer countries.

The study found that about half of these jets burn at least 239 gallons of fuel per hour. This results in more emissions in just over two hours than an average person's annual output according to IEA estimates. Gossling concluded that addressing climate change requires starting with those at the top.