Private jet carbon emissions are soaring, and Americans are leading the charge in what has become one of the most glaring examples of climate inequality. A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation has revealed that in 2023, private jets emitted up to 19.5 million metric tons of greenhouse gases globally. Astonishingly, 55% of that pollution came from flights departing the United States. Despite making up just a fraction of total air travel, private jets have an outsized environmental impact due to their high emissions per passenger and frequent short-haul operations. The study used flight trajectory data combined with emissions models to pinpoint which airports and countries are most responsible, and the findings are troubling.
The nonprofit International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) found that the United States accounted for 65 percent of all private-jet flights last year, a finding highlighted in the Washington Post. The irony? Post owner Jeff Bezos reportedly drew nearly 100 private jets to Venice for his wedding celebrations over the weekend. Notably, 18 of the 20 most polluting airports for private jets sit on U.S. soil, including Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, a magnet for celebrity and influencer traffic. Short hops—often under two hours—magnify the problem: takeoff and climb are fuel-intensive, so these flights generate roughly a third of aviation’s carbon output. France has tried to curb such waste by banning short domestic flights where train alternatives exist, but its narrow scope has produced only modest results.
The United States accounted for 65% of all private jet flights last year, a report by the Washington Post points out. Notably, 18 of the 20 most polluting airports for private jets are located within the country. One of them, Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles, stood out as a hub of celebrity and influencer traffic. Short trips, often under two hours, are a major problem. These short-haul flights contribute roughly a third of aviation’s carbon output because takeoff and climb phases are fuel-intensive. France tried to tackle this issue by banning short domestic flights where train alternatives exist, but the impact has been modest due to the narrow scope of the policy.
The numbers are more than just data points. They reflect an emerging pattern where the very wealthy are using private aviation at levels far beyond those in other nations. In the United States, there are 687 private jet flights for every 10,000 people. By contrast, the United Kingdom and France register only 117 and 107 flights per 10,000 people, respectively. Florida and Texas alone accounted for more private jet flights than the entire European Union. This is a society where a growing number of millionaires and billionaires are fueling emission growth from the top, even as the rest of the world faces mounting pressure to reduce carbon footprints.
Among the most high-profile users of private jets is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He recently acquired a new Gulfstream G700, valued at $80 million. On its maiden voyage from California to his sprawling estate in Hawaii, the aircraft burned over 12,000 pounds of fuel and released 19 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Although the G700 is more efficient than his previous G650, the emissions remain staggeringly high for a single flight, especially when such trips are frequent. Zuckerberg’s massive property on Kauai, spanning over 1,300 acres, has already drawn attention and criticism, and his growing use of private aviation adds another layer to the scrutiny.
Other celebrities like Taylor Swift and Kylie Jenner have also come under fire for their frequent and often unnecessary private jet use. From short 17-minute flights to jets idling on the tarmac between lavish events, their travel habits have become symbols of environmental excess. While public outrage occasionally flares up, policy responses have been weak. Until private aviation is regulated in a meaningful way, emissions from the skies will continue to climb, and the burden of climate change will remain unfairly distributed.
