Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from private jets have soared by 25% over the past decade and now account for nearly 4% of all civil aviation emissions, a study has found.
According to the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), private jets produced roughly 19.5 million tonnes of GHG emissions in 2023, which is more than that produced from all flights, including commercial airliners, departing London Heathrow airport in 2023.
Private jets are estimated to be five to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights because they carry fewer passengers, creating a higher carbon footprint for each individual on board.
The report attempts to improve our understanding of aviation’s environmental impact by providing the first detailed global mapping of private jet air and climate pollution. Using global flight trajectory (ADS-B) data with publicly available emissions models, researchers could track more than 90% of private jet activity and emissions.
“Private jets are...