Keeping Up With The Klimate: How Celebrities and their Private Planes Have a Negative Impact on Climate Change
Mia Espinoza & Bailey Guess
Introduction
The 2020 Global pandemic put life on pause- travel became limited. Many people were stuck at home. Vacations, weddings, honeymoons, and common day to day activities were all canceled as the virus forced us to stay at home. As the virus levels continue to go down, many people are ready to get out of the house and travel around the world, to become reunited with friends and family they have long been unable to see. For the majority of Americans this means getting in the car or going to your local airport and hopping on economy flight. However, some celebrities have found a way around this – many can just hop on their private plane. A more convenient and exclusive way to travel. Unfortunately, the public effects of fuel emissions from these trips are not convenient for our environment.
Background
Recently, a few popular celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Drake, and Taylor Swift, were publicly criticized for using their private planes to take just 17 minute flights- one even only 14 minutes long. A recent New York Time Article reported that celebrities have emitted an average of more than 3,376 tons of CO2, further stating that that is roughly 480 times more than an average person’s annual emissions. [1] Many of the celebrities defend their actions merely by claiming that they loan the aircraft out to others, or that corporations they’re affiliated with are the owners of the plane. [2] However, this blame-game does not change the impact of the carbon footprint celebrities are leaving in the slightest. Regardless of whether the celebrities own the aircraft or not, they are deciding to take these short trips without a second thought to the environmental effects. Just because celebrities do not have to worry about the cost of these short trips, does not mean they should be immune from regulations on using these aircrafts this frequently for such short periods. Further, these trips dramatically differ from commercial flying, they are carrying a substantial amount less passengers than commercial flights.
Issue
As noted above, these private planes have emitted more than 3,376 tons of CO2, 480 times more than an average person’s CO2 emissions. These emissions can cause serious effects to our environment. When these private planes are flying, even just short distances, they are burning fossil fuel which then releases carbon dioxide into the environment. [3] This large amount of CO2 transmitted into the environment traps heat into the atmosphere and is said to be a leading cause of global warming. [4] The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change claims that fossil fuels are the main cause of global warming. [5] Global warming brings a multitude of problems in itself.
There are many negative effects of global warming to our environment, and even our health, that are interrelated. Our water, food, health, and environment can all be affected by global warming. Floods have become more and more common as the climate shifts, droughts have also become more frequent and common in other areas. [6] Global warming also creates higher temperatures, which in turn creates a need for plants to have more water. [7] But with floods and droughts and other dramatic weather changes, plants tend to struggle. These weather changes can make it difficult for farmers to farm their produce, due to the increased temperatures and lack of water creating many challenges on production. [8] These higher temperatures and lack of water also affect farmers' health, and can cause a risk of heat stroke. [9] Additionally, the overall health of our communities are impacted. Changes in weather can cause hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, and an increase in bugs such as mosquitoes and ticks. [10] As you can see, Global warming can cause a multitude of issues. Private planes/jets are not the only issue causing global warming of course, but by choosing to drive shorter distances celebrities could help bring down CO2 emissions.
Resolution
A potential and reasonable resolution to this issue is implementing regulations or policies that limit the use of these private aircrafts. It was recently announced that Canada is implementing a regulation on luxury aircrafts and yachts in efforts to limit these irresponsible emissions. [11] This Canadian regulation will implement a 10% tax on these luxury forms of transportation. [12] While celebrities will most likely not be deterred by a 10% increase, it is worth sending a message that will hopefully lead celebrities to think twice before emitting irrational amounts of carbon-dioxide into the atmosphere. Another resolution would be to implement a policy regulating flights under an hour. If the flight-log shows that these private trips would be under an hour, it should be stipulated that you have to find another mode of transportation. This would significantly decrease the carbon footprint celebrities are leaving. In short, an action needs to be taken to let these celebrities know that their irresponsible choices have an effect on more than them alone.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is apparent that these private aircrafts are creating a mass amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. This creates huge issues to the environment and health of our communities that are affecting a range of areas. Global warming has been said to be the cause of dramatic weather changes such as floods, wildfires, draughts, etc. By creating a luxury tax or implementing mandatory flight lengths for private flying we may dramatically be able to bring down CO2 emissions. Although celebrities have more of a need to fly private, these short distance flights are likely unnecessary. The massive amount of CO2 emissions going into the atmosphere for these short flights are just not worth it!
About the Authors
Mia Espinoza is a first-year member on Volume 14. She graduated from the University of Kentucky and worked as an America Corps VISTA at CASA of Lexington before law school. Mia is still deciding what practice area she’d like to work in after graduation, but is currently interested in insurance law. In her free time, Mia likes to bike and run, spend time with family and friends, and read non-law related books.
Bailey Guess is a first-year member on Volume 14. She has a B.A. in Digital Arts & Media and is currently working as a law clerk for the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office. After graduation, Bailey hopes to work for a private practice and travel abroad. In her free time, Bailey likes to run, paint, and spend time with family and friends.
References
[1] Allyson Chiu, Celebrities use private jets excessively. It’s a climate nightmare., The Washington Post (Aug. 2, 2022), https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2022/08/02/taylor-swift-kylie-jenner-private-jet-emissions/.
[2] Id.
[3] Fossil Fuels and Climate Change: the facts, ClientEarth (Feb. 18, 2022), https://www.clientearth.org/latest/latest-updates/stories/fossil-fuels-and-climate-change-the-facts/#:~:text=When%20fossil%20fuels%20are%20burned,temperature%20has%20increased%20by%201C.
[4] Id.
[5] Id.
[6] Climate Change Impacts, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Aug. 13, 2021), https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/climate/climate-change-impacts.
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
[11] Solcyre Burga, From Private Jets to Superyachts, Here’s the Climate Impact of the Rich and Famous, TIME (Aug. 25, 2022), https://time.com/6208632/celebrities-climate-impact-private-jets-yachts/.
[12] Id.