As the world grapples with the escalating impacts of climate change, the increase in luxury private jet travel, often used by the ultra-wealthy for extremely short, non-essential trips, is contributing to an alarming rise in carbon emissions, a recent study has confirmed.
Emissions from private aviation increased by 46% between 2019 and 2023, research led by Professor Stefan Gössling from Linnaeus University, Sweden, has revealed. Gössling’s team, analysing data from the ADS-B Exchange on 18.7 million private flights, found that private jets emitted at least 15.6 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023 alone – about 1.8% of all aviation emissions. Despite these numbers, the sector caters to around 256,000 people, or just 0.003% of the global adult population, the “ultra-high net worth” individuals.
Published in the Communications Earth & Environment journal, the study reveals that nearly half of all private jet flights cover distances shorter than 500 km, with some jets making trips as short as 50 km. Such flights could easily be replaced by trains or cars, particularly in Europe, where rail connectivity is high.
“These are emissions from a minuscule fraction of the population”, Gössling noted, adding that “this affluent group is now using private jets almost as a taxi service, flying distances that could often be covered by other, less harmful means.”
The situation is exacerbated during global events such as the FIFA World Cup or the Davos Economic Forum, where hundreds of private jets converge, significantly spiking local emissions. The report notes that during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, 1,846 private jets contributed an estimated 14,700 tonnes of CO2. Meanwhile, perhaps paradoxically, the COP28 climate conference in Dubai saw 291 jets arrive, adding around 1,500 tonnes to the local emissions load.
“Events that attract a global audience also attract a significant number of private jets, which are incredibly carbon intensive. These gatherings become significant emission events themselves due to private jet traffic”, explained Gössling. “If a single flight emits as much in one hour as the average person emits in a year, simply for a football game or a weekend getaway, then it’s clear we have a problem in terms of emissions equity.”
The study also underscores a fundamental disparity in emissions contributions. Private jet users, described as “ultra-high net worth” individuals, produce emissions orders of magnitude greater than the average person, particularly in low-emission regions like central Africa. The report shows that one high-frequency private jet user emitted approximately 2,400 tonnes of CO2 in a year, nearly 500 times the annual emissions of the average person.
With the private jet industry expected to grow and an additional 8,500 business jets anticipated to enter service by 2033, experts like Gössling urge for stringent regulatory measures. The researchers suggest implementing high landing fees or “super taxes” on private jets to deter casual use and cover the hidden environmental costs. Gössling proposed that “a landing fee of €5,000 could serve as an effective deterrent for unnecessary short flights.”
Beyond individual measures, there’s a growing call among climate scientists and activists for comprehensive actions to address private aviation’s climate impacts. These include enhancing the transparency of flight data, integrating sustainable aviation fuels, and, ultimately, moving towards an outright ban on the most polluting practices.
