What is the impact of private jets on global warming over the past 10 years ?

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A recent study, published on November 7 in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, highlights the completely disproportionate carbon footprintof this mode of transport prized by the most fortunate. The analysis of 18.7 million flights between 2019 and 2023 reveals practices that are cause for concern, even though the global fleet is expected to increase by another notch in the coming decade.

This dizzying increase is driven by an elite that nevertheless represents barely 0.003% of the world's adult population, which apparently does not seem concerned by global warming.

A booming sector despite its harmful impact

The figures speak for themselves: they are 15.6 million tonnes of CO2 were emitted in 2023 by only 256,000 private jet users. While this volume represents less than 2% of commercial aviation emissions, it reflects consumption per passenger that is significantly higher than regular flights.

The current fleet of 26,000 aircraft mainly serves the United States, which accounts for two-thirds of the world's private jets. The typical profile of their passengers according to data collected by the study? Individuals whose average personal fortune reaches $123 million.

Absurd practices in the face of the climate emergency

At a time when the IPCC is calling for drastic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, half of the journeys made do not exceed 500 km. These short distances, for which the train or the car would be obvious alternatives, illustrate a total disconnection from environmental issues. Even more aberrant, a considerable proportion of flights are empty (or almost), simply to position the aircraft in the right place or ensure deliveries, thereby multiplying unnecessary emissions.

The peaks in use reflect an incongruous paradox. While the 2023 COP28 in Dubai was debating ways to limit global warming, hundreds of private jets were converging on the emirate, generating considerable pollution. The same pattern applies to the Davos Economic Forum, where global elites discuss sustainable development while favoring this ultra-polluting mode of transport. The Super Bowl also transforms the American sky into a veritable highway for private jets for a weekend.

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Upscale seaside resorts like Ibiza and Nice also see these aircraft flocking to them every summer weekend. A concentration of flights that intensifies during festivals and social events, such as the one in Cannes. These comfortable trips, motivated by the sole desire to save a few hours, are carried out in defiance of the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

A climate future mortgaged by the absence of regulation

The climate horizon is becoming even darker in light of the sector's growth projections. According to analysts' forecasts, the global private jet fleet is set to grow by another third by 2033. This planned expansion comes at a time when the scientific consensus is clear on the effect of carbon emissions on our planet.

The alternative technological solutions put forward by the industry are struggling to convince. Sustainable aviation fuels, presented as the environmental panacea, remain largely ignored by jet owners. This reluctance reflects the sector's lack of enthusiasm for transforming its practices, despite its considerable impact per passenger. Manufacturers will therefore continue to put into service ever more luxurious devices, without any real environmental constraints.

In their study, the researchers denounce the reluctance of political leaders to deal with the problem. ” L‘private aviation illustrates the policy dilemma of addressing the role of the wealthy, with policymakers reluctant to target the rich and powerful ,” they point out. This weakness is manifested in the absence of binding regulation, even though the sector represents a textbook example of excessive and non-essential consumption.

Without swift enforcement measures – progressive taxation, short-haul bans, emissions quotas – private aviation’s carbon footprint will continue to grow, undermining collective efforts to reduce emissions. A situation that is all the more worrying since these emissions affect the entire world population, further widening the gap between a mobile elite and the majority, forced into sobriety.

• The carbon footprint of private jets is disproportionately large and growing, despite the climate emergency.
• Private jets emit 15.6 million tonnes of CO₂ per year, often for short trips or even empty.
• The lack of strict regulation allows this sector to grow without constraints, threatening global efforts to reduce emissions.

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