Ultra-rich using jets like taxis, climate scientists warn

A recent study has revealed that the ultra-rich are treating private jets as if they are taxis, raising serious concerns among climate scientists about the environmental impact of such behavior. The researchers tracked private flights around the world to assess the carbon dioxide emissions produced by these flights, which are a significant contributor to climate change. Their findings indicate that carbon dioxide emissions from private jets increased by a staggering 46% between 2019 and 2023. The study included various private flights, from weekend getaways to Ibiza, Spain, to high-profile events like the Fifa World Cup and the UN climate conference in Dubai. According to the research team, flying in a private jet for just one hour can release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the average person generates in an entire year. Professor Stefan Gossling, who led the research at Sweden's Linnaeus University, stated, 'There are many individuals using these aircraft as taxis, covering distances simply for convenience. ' He emphasized that if a single flight emits as much carbon dioxide in one hour as an average person does in a year, it suggests that these wealthy individuals believe they are exempt from the standards that the global community adheres to. In 2023, private flights were responsible for an estimated 15. 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. While this figure may seem small in comparison to total global emissions, it represents about 1. 8% of emissions from all air travel, and aviation itself accounts for 4% of global emissions. Professor Gossling pointed out that while the emissions from private jets might not appear significant, they come from a very small segment of the population, and each of these individuals emits more carbon dioxide in a year than a small city in central Africa. On average, a person produces around 4. 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, while in central Africa, this figure can drop to as low as 0. 1 tonnes. The 46% increase in emissions from private jets is likely due to a surge in demand and the restrictions on commercial travel that were imposed during the Covid pandemic. The individuals who typically fly in private jets are among the wealthiest people globally, often referred to as 'ultra-high-net-worth' individuals. This group is estimated to consist of approximately 256,000 people, which is only 0. 003% of the global adult population, with each person owning an average of $123 million. The research team analyzed the flight patterns of several well-known figures, described in the report as 'renowned actors, singers, and directors. ' One individual reportedly took a private jet 169 times in 2023, resulting in an estimated 2,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the emissions produced by 571 petrol cars over the course of a year. The researchers chose not to disclose the names of these individuals, as they did not want to single anyone out. The majority of the private jets were registered in the United States (69%), followed by Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the UK. Many of these flights were for leisure activities or events such as film festivals and football matches, with 47. 4% of the flights covering distances of less than 500 kilometers (approximately 300 miles). The summer months saw a spike in private flights to Ibiza, Spain, and Nice, France, with arrivals and departures concentrated on weekends. During the 2022 Fifa World Cup, 1,846 private jets arrived in Qatar, generating an estimated 14,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Additionally, the researchers found that 291 private planes landed in the United Arab Emirates during the UN climate conference in Dubai in 2023, contributing 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Professor Gossling suggested that these flights were likely taken by wealthy businesspeople attending the climate conference. The study did not account for flights taken by heads of state or politicians, who are more likely to use chartered planes rather than privately owned jets. The researchers calculated emissions from a total of 18,655,789 flights by analyzing the duration of flights and the average fuel consumption of various aircraft models. The tracking data was sourced from the flight-tracking portal ADS-B Exchange, which Professor Gossling deemed the most reliable source for this type of information. He warned, 'In 10 years, people will wish we had done a lot more to combat climate change. ' He stressed the need to reduce certain activities and to start with the wealthiest individuals to demonstrate that everyone has a role in reducing emissions. Without significant action, the world could experience a temperature increase of 3. 1 degrees Celsius this century, according to a recent UN report. Currently, the global temperature is already 1. 2 degrees higher than pre-industrial levels. By 2050, emissions from commercial air travel are expected to rise further. The International Air Transport Association has committed to achieving net-zero emissions in global aviation by 2050. However, many scientists remain skeptical about the availability of a viable alternative to traditional fuels that would allow for an increase in air travel without exacerbating greenhouse gas emissions. The findings of this research have been published in the scientific journal Communications Earth & Environment.