Climate Scientists Warn of “Taxi-Like” Private Jet Use by Wealthy, Citing Significant Emissions Increase

Climate scientists have issued a warning that the wealthiest individuals are utilizing private jets in a manner akin to taxis. This conclusion stems from their tracking of flights to quantify the planet-warming gases emitted by these aircraft. Their analysis revealed a 46% increase in carbon dioxide emissions, a factor contributing to climate change, during the period from 2019 to 2023. The researchers monitored private flights worldwide, encompassing leisure travel such as summer weekend excursions to Ibiza, Spain, and journeys to events like the Fifa World Cup and the UN climate conference held in Dubai. According to the research team, a single hour of flight in a private jet can release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than the average individual generates over an entire year. Professor Stefan Gossling of Sweden’s Linnaeus University, who directed the study, stated: “There are a lot of people using these aircraft as taxis, where you cover whatever distance by aircraft simply because it’s more convenient.” He further commented: “If somebody’s flight emits in one hour as much as an average human being emits in a year – just to watch a soccer game – then perhaps it shows those people think they are outside the standards that we have as a global community.” The research indicates that in 2023, private flights generated an estimated 15.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is comparable to the emissions from 3.7 million petrol cars driven for a year. This figure, however, constitutes a minor portion of overall global carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 1.8% of total air travel emissions, with aviation itself representing 4% of global emissions. Prof Gossling noted that while these emissions “might not seem much, but this is a tiny fraction of humanity and each of these individuals in a year is emitting more than a small city in central Africa” through their private jet travel. On average, each person produces approximately 4.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, a figure that drops to as little as 0.1 tonnes in central Africa. The 46% rise in private jet emissions is likely attributable to increased demand and restrictions on commercial travel that resulted from the Covid pandemic. Individuals who utilize private jets are generally among the world’s wealthiest, often categorized as “ultra-high-net-worth” individuals. According to the scientists, this demographic is estimated to consist of approximately 256,000 people, representing 0.003% of the global adult population, with each possessing an average net worth of $123m (£95m). The research team charted the flight paths of several internationally recognized individuals, identified in the report solely as “renowned actors, singers, and directors.” One such person flew by private jet 169 times in 2023, generating an estimated 2,400 tonnes of carbon dioxide, which is comparable to the emissions from driving 571 petrol cars for an entire year. The scientists opted not to disclose the names of individuals, emphasizing their intention not to single out any specific person. The majority of these aircraft were registered in the US (69%), with Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the UK following in registration numbers. Researchers noted that a significant number of these flights were undertaken for leisure or to attend events like film festivals and football matches. Furthermore, 47.4% of these flights covered distances shorter than 500km (300 miles). During the summer, private flights to Ibiza, Spain, and Nice, France, reached their highest frequency, with arrivals and departures predominantly occurring on weekends. The 2022 Fifa World Cup saw 1,846 private jets land in Qatar, producing an estimated 14,700 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The team also identified 291 private planes that landed in the United Arab Emirates during the UN climate conference in Dubai in 2023, contributing 1,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Prof Gossling suggested that these flights were likely utilized by affluent business individuals attending the climate conference. The study explicitly excluded heads of state or politicians, who typically use chartered aircraft instead of privately owned ones. The researchers computed emissions from 18,655,789 flights by analyzing flight duration and the average fuel consumption of various aircraft models. This tracking data is accessible via the flight-tracking portal ADS-B Exchange, which Prof Gossling considered the most dependable source for such information. Prof Gossling remarked: “In 10 years, people will wish we had done a lot more in order to stop climate change.” He added: “We need to cut down on certain activities and we need to start at the top in order to make the statement that everybody has a role in cutting down emissions.” A recent UN report indicated that without intervention, global temperatures could rise by 3.1C this century, having already increased by 1.2C above pre-industrial levels. Projections suggest that by 2050, commercial travel emissions will exceed 2.5 times their 2021 levels. While the International Air Transport Association has pledged to achieve net-zero global aviation by 2050, numerous scientists express skepticism regarding the existence of a viable alternative to conventional fuel that would permit increased air travel without further releasing planet-warming gases. The findings of this research have been published in the scientific journal communications earth & environment. Information regarding the Future Earth newsletter is available, offering exclusive insights on climate and environment news from the BBC’s Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt, delivered weekly. An international newsletter is also provided for audiences outside the UK. This content is copyrighted by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC clarifies its non-responsibility for the content of external sites and outlines its approach to external linking.