Jet-set ‘hypocrisy’

Greenies rip Davos bigs’ private spewing

Greenpeace accused the billionaires attending this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, of “ecological hypocrisy” for hyping their fight against climate change even as they arrive in carbon-spewing private jets.

“Europe is experiencing the warmest January days ever recorded and communities around the world are grappling with extreme weather events supercharged by the climate crisis,” Greenpeace official Klara Maria Schenk said.

“Meanwhile, the rich and powerful flock to Davos in ultra-polluting, socially inequitable private jets to discuss climate and inequality behind closed doors,” Schenk added.

A Greenpeace-commissioned study of last year’s private jet trips to the annual summit in the Swiss ski town found carbon emissions equivalent to “about 350,000 average cars.” Private planes accounted for 1,040 trips to airports near Davos, or one out of every two flights to the summit.

The study determined that 53% of the private jet trips were short-haul flights below roughly 470 miles that “could have easily been train trips.”

Additionally, 38% of the analyzed flights were for “ultra-short distances” equaling 310 miles or less, with the shortest trip clocking in at approximately 13 miles.

Record attendance is expected at this year’s event, which kicked off Monday and runs through Friday. Climate change was set to be a major discussion topic.

“This annual private jet bonanza is a distasteful master class in hypocrisy,” Schenk said Friday.

Greenpeace noted the billionaires’ preference for private travel was at odds with the WEF’s commitment to the 1.5-degree Celsius Paris Climate Target, described on the organization’s website as a necessary limit to avert a “catastrophe” related to global warming.

The WEF didn’t respond to a request for comment on Greenpeace’s claims.

Notable attendees at this year’s summit include Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.