In 2022, 572,806 private jet flights were operated in Europe. That was 64 percent more than the year before (350,078 flights), when the 2019 level was again exceeded. These private jet flights caused 3.4 million tons of CO₂. This corresponds to the annual CO₂ emissions of 555,000 EU residents, or the population of large cities such as Lisbon.
The Corona crisis with 118,756 private jet flights in Europe (EU27, United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland) in 2020 did not last long. On the contrary, over the past three years the numbers have increased “by a breathtaking 382 percent”, according to the analysis that research institute CE Delft published on Thursday on behalf of Greenpeace.
“Millions of people around the world are grappling with the impacts of the climate crisis and extreme weather, while a small minority burn kerosene for their own pleasure like there is no tomorrow. Private jets are an unfair burden on society and should be banned across the EU,” demands Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria.
Austria ranks seventh for flights
The countries with the most private jet flights in Europe in 2022 were the UK, France and Germany, followed by Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Austria in seventh place. Private jet flights from Austria increased by 89 percent year-on-year and caused 54,400 tonnes of CO₂ – equivalent to the average CO₂ emissions of 36,251 cars per year. The most used routes for private air traffic from Austria in the previous year were Vienna-Nice, Vienna-London and Vienna-Zurich.
One of the shortest routes from Austria is Vienna-Bratislava with a distance of 48 kilometers as the crow flies and 82 flights in the previous year. “This is where the pinnacle of absurdity is reached: Bratislava can be reached by train in a very short time. Flying on this route undermines all efforts to protect the climate,” Duregger stressed.
Nice most served
In 2022, 55 percent of all private jet flights in Europe were short and very short flights of less than 750 kilometers. 15 percent of all private jet flights were less than 250 kilometers and 24 percent were between 250 and 500 kilometers. Most of those distances could easily have been replaced by train travel or ferries, Greenpeace said. The three most popular European airports for private jets last year were Nice/Côte d’Azur, Paris and Geneva with 34,710, 33,496 and 28,630 flights respectively.
Ban on flights with private jets?
“Climate-friendly means of transport and networks must be expanded and promoted comprehensively and safely,” demanded Greenpeace. Climate-damaging forms of transport, such as air travel, must be taxed fairly. Especially in the case of climate-damaging, unnecessary flight routes, such as flights with private jets, “bans are also necessary”. Private jets emit an average of 1.3 kilograms of CO₂ per person and kilometer – ten times as much as a normal flight and 50 times more than an average train journey in Europe.
CO₂ is by far the most important man-made greenhouse gas and therefore the main cause of the climate crisis. Never in history has the concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere been so high. The focus of the historic UN Climate Protection Treaty in Paris, adopted in 2015, is the goal of limiting global warming caused by greenhouse gases to well below two degrees compared to the pre-industrial era. Efforts must also be stepped up to limit the rise in temperature to 1.5 degrees. However, experts and climate defenders see achieving the Paris climate goals as barely achievable, even with optimistic scenarios.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
