The Mega-Rich and Their Private Jets: A Climate Warning

Climate scientists warn that the world’s wealthiest individuals are using private jets as casually as taxis, significantly contributing to global carbon emissions.

A recent study tracked private flights worldwide to quantify the greenhouse gases they produce. The findings reveal a stark increase in emissions and highlight the environmental toll of such luxury travel.

Between 2019 and 2023, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from private flights surged by 46%. This alarming rise is attributed to growing demand for private jets and the reduced availability of commercial flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The research examined private flights globally, including popular routes to leisure destinations like Ibiza, Spain, and high-profile events such as the FIFA World Cup and the United Nations climate conference in Dubai.

Flying in a private jet emits a disproportionate amount of CO2. A single hour in the air on one of these jets produces more carbon than the average person generates in an entire year.

“There are a lot of people using these aircraft as taxis, where you cover whatever distance by aircraft simply because it’s more convenient,” Professor Stefan Gossling, from Sweden’s Linnaeus University, who led the research, said.

“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.”

In 2023 alone, private flights released approximately 15.6 million tonnes of CO2—equivalent to the emissions from 3.7 million petrol-powered cars driven for a year. While this accounts for only 1.8% of aviation emissions and 0.072% of global emissions, the impact is concentrated among a tiny elite, raising questions about equity and responsibility in tackling climate change.

A Small Group with Outsized Impact

The ultra-wealthy, or “ultra-high-net-worth individuals,” are the primary users of private jets. This group, comprising around 256,000 people—just 0.003% of the global adult population—owns an average of $123 million in assets.

Despite their minuscule numbers, their carbon footprint is staggering. For instance, one unnamed celebrity took 169 private flights in 2023, generating an estimated 2,400 tonnes of CO2—equivalent to the annual emissions of 571 petrol cars.

On average, each person on Earth produces 4.3 tonnes of CO2 annually. In stark contrast, emissions in parts of central Africa are as low as 0.1 tonnes per person per year.

Prof Gossling said the 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” by travelling in private jets.

Leisure and Luxury at the Cost of the Planet

The research revealed that nearly half (47.4%) of private flights were under 500 kilometres (300 miles)—distances that could often be covered by train or car.

Many flights were linked to leisure or events, such as film festivals, football matches, or luxury getaways. Destinations like Ibiza, Spain, and Nice, France, saw peak arrivals during summer weekends.

For the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, 1,846 private jets landed, producing an estimated 14,700 tonnes of CO2. Similarly, the 2023 UN climate conference in Dubai attracted 291 private planes, adding 1,500 tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere.

Tracking the Damage

The study analysed emissions from over 18.6 million private flights using flight-tracking data from ADS-B Exchange, a reliable portal for such information.

“In 10 years, people will wish we had done a lot more in order to stop climate change,” Prof Gossling said.

“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.”

By calculating air time and fuel consumption for various aircraft models, the researchers painted a detailed picture of the environmental costs of private aviation.

Most private jets were registered in the United States (69%), with significant numbers also in Brazil, Canada, Germany, Mexico, and the UK.

The research avoided naming specific individuals, focusing instead on systemic patterns of luxury travel among the world’s wealthiest.

Aviation’s Role in the Climate Crisis

While private aviation represents a small slice of global emissions, its rapid growth highlights broader challenges in reducing the sector’s environmental impact.

Aviation as a whole accounts for about 4% of global emissions, with commercial air travel emissions projected to more than double by 2050 if current trends continue.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions for global aviation by mid-century, but scientists remain skeptical about the feasibility of scaling alternative fuels without exacerbating other environmental issues.

A Warming World

The consequences of unchecked emissions are dire. A recent UN report warns that the planet is on track to warm by 3.1°C this century if significant actions are not taken.

Current global temperatures are already 1.2°C above pre-industrial levels, and continued emissions growth, including from aviation, could push the climate past critical tipping points.

The study, published in Communications Earth & Environment, underscores the urgent need to address the environmental impact of luxury travel. Without systemic change, the pursuit of convenience and exclusivity by the wealthy risks further accelerating the climate crisis.

 

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