Taylor Swift was criticized for using private jets to travel too much. This affects the environment.

Taylor Swift used a private plane and traveled more than 8,000 km to support her boyfriend. Photo: UPI.

To support her boyfriend Travis Kelce playing in the Super Bowl, Taylor Swift flew from Tokyo (Japan) to Las Vegas, Nevada (USA) in 12 hours, traveling more than 8,000 km. This is her latest private flight, a form of travel that many people oppose because it causes large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere.

According to Newsweek, Taylor’s plane emitted 138 tons of CO2 in the three months it took to get its owner to meet Kelce. This caused the female singer to be criticized for her large carbon footprint. Carbon footprint is the amount of CO2 emitted due to a person’s activities and lifestyle.

Travel habits criticized

“The carbon emissions emitted by Taylor Swift’s private jet are excessive and are polluting the atmosphere,” Leah Thomas, author of the book The Intersectional Environmentalist, told the BBC that. “This is one of the leading causes of the climate crisis because carbon in the atmosphere heats the planet, contributing to extreme weather events.”

In the past, singer Lover was criticized for frequently using private jets. Yard, a marketing company in the UK, announced Taylor Swift as the most polluting celebrity of 2022. They said she emitted 1,100 times more CO2 than the average person.

However, the Washington Post rejected this analysis, saying it was based solely on Twitter flight data, without verification or assessment by experts. Furthermore, it is not certain whether Taylor Swift was on a private plane or not.

Taylor Swift’s representative said that she has purchased carbon offsets for her private jet travel. Photo: People.

Airplane travel is one of the causes of high CO2 emissions. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, aviation contributes 8% of the country’s carbon emissions.

But not all flights are equally polluting. Direct and economy flights have a lower carbon footprint than private flights. Private jets can emit 10 times more CO2 than commercial jets.

“Rich people can live more sustainably than poor people,” Thomas said. Taylor Swift can use her voice to call for action against climate change, support sustainable projects or share profits from shows with environmental protection organizations.

Carbon offsets

Carbon offsets are a way of planting trees to reduce CO2 emissions. Companies often buy them to offset the carbon they contribute to the atmosphere. Taylor Swift did the same. The representative told the AP that she purchased double the amount of carbon offsets needed for her private flights on her The Eras Tour, which began in March.

“Taylor Swift does not intend to emit a lot of carbon by flying private,” says Scott Keyes, an air travel expert and founder of Going. Carbon is a byproduct of flying and many other activities. Carbon offsets are a way to pay for that side effect.”

Taylor Swift will perform in Singapore this coming March. Photo: Empire.

Thomas also said: “Taylor Swift can do more than offset carbon. She can learn from Coldplay and Billie Eilish, artists who have made their tours more environmentally friendly by limiting plastic and using bio-waste bins.

However, not everyone believes in carbon offsets. Some climate scientists argue that they do not lead to real emissions reductions. Carbon offsets are just a way to console the conscience. Everyone can make up for their flights. “We should demand that Taylor Swift, who has made billions of dollars from music, be more responsible for the environment,” Thomas emphasized.

If you don’t want to offset carbon, you can also reduce your carbon footprint by eating less meat, taking the bus or train, and choosing environmentally friendly travel activities.