Rich people’s private jets create huge pollution problem

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Research reveals a concerning trend among society’s wealthiest members, who increasingly opt for private jet travel over commercial flights, significantly contributing to carbon emissions.

A recent study by Linnaeus University researchers shows private jet CO2 emissions reached 15.6 million tonnes in 2023, marking a 46% increase from 2019. The most frequent private jet users generated approximately 2,400 tonnes of emissions individually in 2023, exceeding average personal emissions by 500 times.

heres a map of ALL priv jets leaving the last superbowl. there are millions of rich people using them 24/7 so unless you passionately hold them ALL accountable too, stop pretending that you give a fuck about private jet usage if you only bring it up about taylor pic.twitter.com/hnNPBC95dp

— the bridge of my tears ricochet (@PsychicCancer) December 5, 2023

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This comprehensive analysis tracked over 25,000 private jets and nearly 19 million flights between 2019 and 2023. Almost half these flights covered distances under 500km, with 900,000 trips spanning less than 50km, often for leisure purposes. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar alone attracted over 1,800 private flights.

The United States dominates private aviation, accounting for 69% of flights, with Canada, the UK, and Australia among the top users. British airspace sees private jet departures every six minutes.

“The wealthy are a very small share of the population but are increasing their emissions very quickly and by very large levels of magnitude,” noted Prof Stefan Gössling, the study’s lead researcher. He added: “The growth in global emissions that we are experiencing at this point in time is coming from the top.”

Timelapse of 525 private jets leaving Las Vegas after the Super Bowl

Crazy that Taylor Swift owns them all pic.twitter.com/C4NUxKbqXq

— Morning Brew ☕️ (@MorningBrew) February 14, 2024

The research, published in Communications Earth & Environment, analyzed data from ADS-B Exchange, examining 72 business jet models. From 2019 to 2023, private jet numbers increased by 28%, while flight distances rose by 53%. Notable private jet activity also clusters in Brazil, the Middle East, and the Caribbean.

“We know some people use them as taxis, really,” Gössling said. “If it’s just 50km, you could definitely do that by car.”