Private jet emissions soar by 50% amidst global events
CO2 emissions from private jet flights have increased by almost 50 percent over four years, according to an analysis published in "Communications Earth & Environment." Passengers on these flights can emit several hundred times more carbon dioxide than an average person.
8 November 2024 06:57
Research indicates that individuals using private airplanes can generate nearly 500 times more carbon dioxide annually than the average person. This pattern is particularly noticeable during international events, such as the COP 28 climate conference or the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where emissions substantially increase.
Private aviation is marked by high energy consumption and significant CO2 emissions per passenger compared to commercial flights. Only about 0.003 percent of the world's population engages in this mode of transportation. The global scale of private aviation and its emissions remains inadequately documented.
Stefan Gossling of Linnaeus University in Kalmar, Sweden, along with his team, analyzed data from records covering more than 18.5 million private flights conducted by nearly 26,000 business jets from 2019 to 2023. This study encompasses a substantial majority of this aviation segment. Researchers calculated CO2 emissions from each flight by combining manufacturer-reported fuel consumption data with the flight duration and route.
The results indicate that the flights in 2023 generated a total of about 17 million tonnes of CO2, averaging 4 tonnes of CO2 per flight. This represents a 46 percent increase in emissions from private flights compared to 2019, accounting for about 1.8 percent of total emissions from commercial aviation in 2023.
Global events increase emissions
Scientists emphasize that major international events contribute to the rise in private jet travel. During COP 28, 644 private flights were recorded, generating 5,300 tonnes of CO2, and during the 2022 FIFA World Cup, there were 1,846 such flights, resulting in 16,200 tonnes of CO2.
Record emissions per person in 2023 reached 2,600 tonnes of CO2, nearly 500 times higher than the average in 2020.
