ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA – Private jets are listed as one of the largest contributors to global carbon emissions.
In Europe, carbon emissions from private jets are rising drastically according to a new report from Greenpeace.
The environmental group found that private jets in Europe emitted a total of 5.3 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the last three years, with the number of flights jumping from nearly 119,000 in 2020 to 573,000 in 2022.
That’s more carbon dioxide than Uganda – a country of around 46 million people – produces in a year. These findings highlight the devastating climate impacts of global elites.
“Vulnerable people are on the front lines of the climate crisis and are the ones most affected by soaring fuel prices. But these vulnerable groups are not the ones who contribute the most to greenhouse gases. It is completely unfair that rich people can harm the climate in this way,” said Greenpeace European Union transport campaigner, Thomas Geliz, quoted Friday, February 9 2024.
The researchers found that the number of private jet flights in Europe will increase by 64 percent by 2022, with CO2 emissions more than doubling.
Most private jet flights are made in France, England and Germany (the largest and richest countries in Europe) covering distances under 750 kilometers.
So how bad are private jets for the environment?
Private aircraft have much higher emissions than other modes of transportation. On average, one trip produces the equivalent CO2 of driving a petrol car from Paris to Rome 16 times.
Greenpeace is calling on governments and the European Union to ban the use of private jets and short-haul flights where adequate rail connections are available.
“Pollution from extravagant luxury must be first, we need to ban private jets,” said Greenpeace campaigner Gelin.
In November, Oxfam found that billionaires were responsible for one million times more greenhouse gas emissions than ordinary people. This adds to calls for the world’s ultra-rich to shoulder more financial responsibility to tackle the climate emergency.
Europe’s busiest private jet route last year was Paris-London, with an average of nine flights between the cities each day, according to a Greenpeace report. This route has a direct and regular train connection which takes less than two hours.
The French government has pushed the European Union to tighten rules on private jets, short-haul flights and very cheap flights.
At a meeting of EU transport ministers, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Portugal expressed their support for France’s call.
Limiting emissions from aviation is part of efforts to tackle climate change, although drastic action is needed in many other areas. This sector contributes more than two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. (ATN)
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