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.
572,806 private jet flights were operated in Europe in 2022. This was 64% more than the previous year’s 350,078 trips, when the pre-pandemic 2019 level was surpassed. Private jet flights in Europe in 2022 caused 3.4 million tonnes of CO2. This corresponds to the annual CO2 emissions of 555,000 EU residents, i.e. the population of large cities like Lisbon, according to Greenpeace’s analysis of these “luxury emissions”.
The Corona drop with 118,756 private jet flights in Europe (EU27, UK, Norway and Switzerland) in 2020 did not last long. On the contrary, the numbers have “increased by a staggering 382 percent” over the past three years, according to the analysis published on Thursday by research institute CE Delft on behalf of Greenpeace.
Great Britain, France and Germany at the top
“Millions of people around the world are struggling with the effects of the climate crisis and extreme weather events, while a small minority burn kerosene just for their own pleasure, like there’s no tomorrow. Private jets are an unfair burden on society and need be replaced across the EU are banned,” demanded Jasmin Duregger, climate and energy expert at Greenpeace Austria.
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% year-on-year, causing 54,400 tonnes of CO2 – this corresponds to the average CO2 emission 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 Austria’s shortest routes is Vienna-Bratislava, with a distance of 48 kilometers and 82 flights in the previous year. “This is where the height of absurdity is reached: Bratislava can be reached by train in a very short time. Flying this route tramples on any efforts to protect the climate”, emphasized Duregger.
55 percent flights of less than 750 kilometers
In 2022, 55% 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 Most of those distances could easily have been replaced by train or ferry travel, Greenpeace said.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.
“Climate-friendly transport and networks must be expanded and promoted comprehensively and safely,” demanded Greenpeace. Climate-damaging forms of transport, such as air travel, should be taxed fairly. Especially for unnecessary and climate-damaging air routes, such as private jet flights, “bans are also necessary.” Private jets emit an average of 1.3 kilograms of CO2 per person and kilometer – ten times more than a regular 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 landmark UN Paris climate protection treaty, adopted in 2015, is the goal of limiting global warming caused by greenhouse gases well below two degrees compared to pre-industrial times. Efforts must also be intensified to limit the temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. However, climate experts and advocates see achieving the Paris climate targets as unlikely to be achievable, even with optimistic scenarios.
(APA/dpa)