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Getty ImagesTaylor Swift has been criticized for using a private plane, but claims she purchased twice the amount of carbon credits needed to offset her Elas tour flights.
Taylor Swift This weekend, I took a 12-hour, 5,000-mile flight from Tokyo, Japan to Las Vegas, Nevada to watch Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce win. Super Bowl vs. San Francisco 49ers.It was her most recent private jet flight – a travel habit that has attracted criticism This is because jet aircraft inevitably release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.The pop star reportedly Generates 138 tons of CO2 emissions While commuting to visit Kelce three months later, Newsweek reported.
Why Taylor Swift's travel habits are criticized
“Swift's carbon footprint is extreme and polluting the atmosphere,” said author Leah Thomas. Intersecting environmental activistshe told BBC Travel. “Carbon emissions are one of the main causes of the climate crisis because carbon in the atmosphere warms the planet and causes extreme weather events.”
The Grammy Award winner's carbon footprint (the amount of carbon dioxide produced by her energy use and lifestyle) was initially estimated at jack sweeneystudent Track celebrity private jet usage. Sweeney is (legally) tracking Swift and other celebrities' carbon footprints, since flight patterns are public information even on private jets owned by celebrities.Sweeney will post this flight information to @SwiftJetNext To further ensure legality, it is delivered next day rather than in real time.
According to Sweeney's tracking, many of Swift's private jet flights coincided with football games. That includes a trip to Buffalo, New York, where he attended the Chiefs-Buffalo Bills game on January 21st, and a trip to Baltimore, Maryland, on January 28th. Chiefs vs. Baltimore Ravens game.
Last week, it was revealed that Swift's legal team sent a letter to Sweeney that read: Cease and desist letter In December 2023, he threatened legal action against students at the University of Central Florida, saying his “fraudulent and dangerous behavior must stop.” Swift's team argued that Sweeney's actions jeopardized Swift's safety and that this was a “life-or-death matter.” In the letter, Sweeney is accused by Swift's lawyer of “stalking and harassment.”
Swift is Previously criticized for her carbon footprint: Her frequent private jet flights caused the study From British marketing company Yard, she claimed to be the most famous carbon emitter in 2022, with emissions 1,100 times higher than the average person. Having said that, As the Washington Post pointed out, The Yard's analysis relied on flight data available on Twitter, which has not been peer-reviewed or verified, and although it tracked the flights of jets owned by celebrities, it does not know when or if they were owned. There is no way to know. upon Jet.
In general, air travel is a major source of CO2 emissions.Aviation related accounts 8% of carbon-related emissions In the United States, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. That said, flying direct or in economy is considered a lower-carbon option compared to private jets. All air travel emits carbon dioxide, but private jets produce significantly more emissions per person. At least 10 times the carbon footprint Comparison with commercial flights.
The good news for Swift is that “the richer you are, the easier it is to be sustainable,” Thomas explained. “It's okay to hold celebrities to high standards because sustainability is closer to home for them. Maybe we can get back on track by donating the proceeds to environmental organizations.”
Swift public relations officer told BBC News She uses carbon offsets to supplement her private jet travel. But how valuable are they in making frequent air travel more sustainable? BBC Travel has contacted Swift's team for further comment and will update this article if we hear back. It's a schedule.
Getty ImagesHow carbon credits (also known as carbon offsets) work
Because trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air, carbon offsets, which include carbon capture such as tree-planting activities, are purchased to offset greenhouse gas emissions. These are typically purchased by companies to offset the total amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by their operations. In Swift's case, her publicist said: told the Associated Press She said she purchased twice the amount of carbon offsets needed to cover the travel costs of the Elas Tour before it began in March. This will probably cover the extra mileage I saved up to go see Kelce.
of another type carbon offset It is a fee that individuals pay to combat the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere, rather than to reduce their use. Carbon offsets calculate the estimated carbon emissions emitted during environmentally harmful activities, such as flying, and calculate a fee to prevent the creation of the same amount of carbon. Carbon offsets typically invest in environmental projects that reduce carbon emissions elsewhere. That being said, there is usually no clear calculation that can identify the exact fee that offsets the exact amount of carbon. The offset is a rough estimate; often they overestimate The amount that carbon sequestration schemes can compensate for. Plus, there's always room for failure. For example: Forest conservation is used as carbon sequestrationthat forest can be burned with wildfires, ultimately saving zero emissions.
“Carbon offsets can offset emissions that are otherwise difficult to remove. Many carbon offset projects involve funding, such as funding to plant new forests or grow carbon-absorbing algae. Very valuable, while other projects are virtually worthless,” says the air travel expert, who goes by Scott's cheap flights.Ann ProPublica investigation It turns out that many carbon reduction projects overestimate the impact of their emissions reductions. However, there are several highly vetted third-party certifications for carbon offset programs. gold standard, Verified carbon standards and green e.
“When Swift gets on a private jet, it's not her intention to exhale tons of carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is exhaled by flying, driving, lighting a campfire, and a million other everyday activities. It's an externality (unintended consequence) of the activities of life. Carbon credits are important because “they're an attempt to put a price on that externality,'' Keyes said. .
Thomas added that Swift doesn't need to stop at carbon offsetting to make her travels and tours more sustainable, citing artists such as: coldplay and billie eilish We make sustainability a must on our tours by minimizing the use of single-use plastics and installing composting bins on site.
Carbon offsets of emissions have been criticized by some climate scientists who argue that they are not actually reduce emissions Enter the atmosphere. “Carbon offsets are minimal because anyone can offset their flights,” Thomas said. “We can hold Taylor Swift to a higher standard after earning over $1 billion on tour.”
Beyond carbon offsets, travelers can also consciously minimize their carbon footprint by reducing their meat consumption, using public transport, and booking eco-friendly tourism experiences.
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