The skies of Egypt were crossed this Sunday by hundreds of private jets used by world leaders to reach Sharm El Sheikh, the city that hosts the climate talks until November 18. At the previous climate summit, held last year in Scotland, it is estimated that a total of 400 private jets flew to transport around a thousand international authorities.
The political leaders landed in their respective jets, according to the European activist group Transport and Environment, are 5 to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial ones, and up to 50 times more than trains.
At the previous climate summit, held last year in Scotland, it is estimated that a total of 400 private jets were flown to transport around a thousand international authorities.
According to the European activist group Transport and Environment, planes burn fossil fuels which not only release CO2 emissions but also have other strong warming effects due to nitrogen oxides (NOx), contrails and the formation of carbon dioxide caused by the altitude at which they operate.
In the last ten years, world air traffic has grown by more than 5% per year. In 2018, commercial aviation was responsible for 2.4% of CO2 emissions due to fossil fuels, according to the International Council for Clean Transportation. The Paris agreement calls for all states to adopt "economy-wide" emission reduction targets, and while it does not mention sector-specific targets, air transport is covered by the agreement.
Politicians across the world want us to stop Pollution when they are dedicated to polluting in the fantastic private jet that they are going to use to travel this Sunday to the COP-27 in Egypt. It might have started with the best of intentions, but has degenerated into nothing more than a publicly subsidized ego trip.
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