Study Reveals Surge in Private Jet Emissions Amid Increased Demand for High-Profile Events
A new study has highlighted a nearly 50% increase in carbon emissions from private jet flights over the past four years, driven by a shift in travel habits of wealthy individuals and a high demand for transportation to large global events such as the World Cup, the Davos Economic Forum, and the UN’s COP climate summits.
Researchers tracked over 18.6 million private flights from 25,993 aircraft worldwide, finding that private jet emissions reached 15.6 million metric tons of CO₂ in 2023, marking a 46% increase from 2019 levels.
The rise in emissions has raised questions regarding the impact of private aviation on climate, particularly as COP29 approaches in Azerbaijan, where officials will discuss measures to address global warming. The study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, found that many private jets were used as “taxis” for short trips, often to large gatherings, despite the environmental impact. At events such as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, private flights surged, with 1,846 flights generating nearly 15,000 tons of CO₂ emissions. Similarly, the COP28 climate summit last year in the UAE attracted 291 private jet flights, producing around 3,800 tons of emissions.
The study’s authors, including lead researcher Stefan Gössling from Linnaeus University in Sweden, noted a significant shift in travel patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic. As commercial flights were restricted during the lockdown, many affluent travelers turned to private jets, a trend that has since continued. In addition, services like fractional jet ownership and discounted “empty leg” flights have made private flying more accessible, contributing to an overall rise in private jet usage.
Despite representing a fraction of total air travel emissions—private jets account for 1.8% of emissions from all aviation—private flights produce far more carbon per passenger compared to commercial flights. Some individual private jet users generate annual emissions hundreds of times higher than the average person’s carbon footprint. While some parts of the private aviation industry have attempted to adopt more sustainable practices, such as offering carbon offsets and sustainable fuels, critics argue that these measures fall short given the emissions impact.
Calls for increased regulation are growing, with some experts suggesting policies to encourage fewer flights and more sustainable practices in private aviation.
“Without visible reductions in emissions at the top, it’s difficult to expect the broader population to adopt sustainable travel practices,” Gössling said in a statement on the findings.
The Financial Times, BBC, and National Geographic contributed to this report.
