Participating in COP29 through sustainable travel can inspire others and demonstrate a genuine commitment to combating climate change. It’s an essential step to show that leaders and representatives from around the world are truly intent on achieving their goals.
As the world turns its attention to Baku, Azerbaijan, for the COP29 climate summit, the significant increase in private jets arriving at the city’s international airport has sparked criticism, being seen as contradictory to the goals of the conference.
Data from flight tracking website Flight Radar indicates that 65 private jets landed in Baku in the week leading up to the conference. Of these, 45 arrived on the opening day, Sunday, November 10, and Monday, November 11, 2024, marking a clear increase from 32 jets during the same period last year.
Alethea Warrington, head of energy, aviation, and heat at Possible, a climate action charity, told the Times of London that for CEOs who claim to care about solving the climate crisis, using private jets to travel to COP is a disingenuous façade.
“Traveling by private jet represents an enormous waste of the world’s remaining carbon budget, as each flight emits more carbon than an average person does in an entire year.”
Denis O’Clair, head of the Travel Smart campaign from Transport & Environment (T&E), told the Daily Mail that private jets produce CO₂ per passenger at a rate ten times higher than commercial flights, and executives flying on a single private jet trip use more CO₂ than many do in an entire year.
Choosing to use private jets to attend the climate summit not only negatively impacts the environment but also contradicts and complicates the conference’s goals focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Although the use of private jets provides convenience and prestige, its environmental impact cannot be denied. The emissions from a single private jet flight can disproportionately affect overall carbon levels, undermining the goals of climate summits. Critics argue that the use of private jets by climate representatives does not demonstrate a serious commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
Examples of Efforts
Amid the controversy over reducing carbon footprints, some participants have made notable efforts to minimize their carbon impact. For example, a group of three sustainability consultants from the UK traveled to Baku using 15 trains and three buses, showing that low-carbon travel options are feasible even over long distances.
The choice of trains and buses significantly impacts carbon footprint reduction. According to data from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), traveling by train and bus can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 90% compared to traveling by personal car.
Future Impacts
The use of private jets at international climate summits is part of the growing debate surrounding the carbon footprint of high-level diplomacy. While the necessity of on-site negotiations is acknowledged, the mode of travel by jet has significant implications.
As the world strives to meet the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement, the travel choices of world leaders and representatives to and from this summit remain a focal point.
There is hope that future summits will adopt more sustainable travel options that reflect a genuine commitment to climate goals. Addressing climate issues requires changes in behavior not only in policy but also in the daily lives of leaders and citizens alike.
Source: Euro News
