Private jets are a popular form of transportation for the wealthy and powerful, but their environmental impact is immense. The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator estimates that a one-hour private jet flight emits three metric tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere, which is the equivalent of charging 364,928 cell phones simultaneously. This has caused many to question the hypocrisy of those who promote climate change while using private planes.
In response to this, Bill Gates has stated that he offsets his family’s carbon impact and donates to solutions. He uses a company called Climeworks, which uses a process called direct air capture to take CO2 out of the atmosphere. Gates also supports the Paris Agreement and believes that companies, policy-makers, and civil society must develop comprehensive near- and long-term climate initiatives. He also believes that travelling to learn more about the environment and the solutions to climate change is part of the solution.
Overall, the use of private jets has serious environmental consequences, but those who use them can take steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Bill Gates has made it clear that he offsets his family’s carbon impact and donates to solutions, and believes that travelling to learn more about the environment and the solutions to climate change is part of the solution. Companies, policy-makers, and civil society must also work together to develop comprehensive near- and long-term climate initiatives in order to fulfill the objectives of the Paris Agreement.
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