While many of the biggest stars on the planet have lent their voices and faces to the fight against climate change, others have become the standard bearers for wasting CO2 emissions.
For years, celebrities have been singled out for their use of private jetsalongside oligarchs and oil tycoons.
But today, the stars have found a solution to limit environmental damage (and preserve their reputation): buy credits to offset their emissions.
As carbon offsetting continues to gain ground, is it a good solution for a greener world or just a greenwashing strategy? Euronews Green investigated.
How do celebrities compensate for their shows?
A disproportionate share of carbon dioxide emissions is produced by the richest few people on the planet. Indeed, a study by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) shows thatin the United States, approximately 50% of aviation-related emissions are produced by the richest 1% of individuals.
Private jets – the preferred method of transportation for the rich and famous – MIKE MCCLEARY/AP
American singer-songwriter Taylor Swiftwho has enjoyed unprecedented success since embarking on her Eras Tour, topped the list in 2022.
According to sustainable marketing company Yard, it emitted 8,300 metric tons that year alone (1,184 times the footprint of an average person) – a claim disputed by its representative. Although its emissions have decreased in 2023, some sources still rank it among the most prolific private jet users of the year.
But Taylor Swift is far from the only star to be questioned.
According to a study carried out by the British newspaper The Guardian200 celebrities and moguls produced approximately 415,518 tonnes of CO2 by taking 44,739 private jet trips in 2023.
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The list of these celebrities ranges from the founder of Tesla, Elon Muskto British rock veterans, the Rolling Stones.
Kylie Jenner and her half-sister Kim are among the most frequent users of private jets. -Evan Agostini/AP
“The Earth’s temperature is getting hotter and hotter. Sea levels are rising, ice caps are shrinking” said reality TV star Kim Kardashian during a recent campaign for her new lingerie line. But if their commuting habits are anything to go by, she and her billionaire half-sister, Kylie Jenner, also play their part, as they were both named among the biggest private jet users.
At a time when having a healthy carbon footprint is a matter of reputation for public figures, America’s stars are taking climate action – and making it known to the public.
The use of Taylor Swift’s private jet has come under particular scrutiny. In response, his representative asserts that the singer has “bought more than double the carbon credits needed to offset all the travel on his tour“.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, at the Vanity Fair Oscars party, March 2023. – Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
The tech giant Bill Gates and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos mentioned their carbon offsets when they came under fire in 2021 for a lavish birthday party on a yacht in which guests were flown in by helicopter.
In 2019, British singer-songwriter Elton John claimed to have compensated a trip by Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, for “sustain [son] commitment to the environment“.
Some, like the British group Coldplay, are trying to tackle the source of the problem, by drastically limiting their carbon footprint. They reduced their carbon emissions by 47% during their tour. Music of the Spheres” in 2023.
Singer Chris Martin of the band Coldplay performs at Parken Stadium in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 2023. – Mads Claus Rasmussen/Ritzau Scanpix/AP
From renewable energies to reforestation: carbon compensation and “credits” explained
Taylor Swift may have helped popularize the principle of compensation carbonebut this practice has existed for decades. Its history dates back to 1989, when the first agroforestry program was launched in Guatemala.
Offsetting traditionally consists of purchasing credits certified by a reputable organization (governmental or independent) to finance different initiatives aimed at reducing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.
These includeinvest in renewable energiessuch as solar power, hydro power and wind power, in reforestation and conservation, as well as in projects to help poor communities reduce their emissions.
Individuals are often offered the opportunity to offset their air miles traveled through their airline (although only 1-3% of passengers take up this offer). Companies also use offsetting to reduce their footprint, as well as “insetting”, which consists of deploying emissions reduction efforts internally.
A plant stands alone along a riverbank in Jaque, in the remote Darien province of southeastern Panama. – Arnulfo Franco/AP
As the dramatic effects of climate change become more visible, carbon offsetting has become a lucrative activity, valued at 306.9 billion euros in 2022. This market continues to grow and is expected to reach over €1.4 trillion by 2028.
Europe is establishing itself as a leader in the field of offsetting, with the Community Emissions Trading System (ETS) having carved out a prominent place for itself on the global carbon credit market.
Compensation: eco-laundering or solution for a greener world?
So, is carbon offsetting the way to go? Most of climatologists are not convinced.
The main problem is that, Despite the potential benefits of various carbon offsetting methods, they do not address the root of the problem.
Reforestation, for example, can help, but there is no guarantee that new plantations will be sustained, particularly in countries where the political landscape is unstable.
Furthermore, it is difficult to assess the quantity of CO2 that will actually be absorbed in a given projectwhich makes compensation an option of “last resort“, according to the WWF.
“It is difficult to prove that offsets actually work“, explains James King, climatologist at the University of Sheffield, to Euronews Green. “Regulation is patchy and science shows that avoiding or reducing emissions is more important than trying to offset them after the fact“.
“The best thing to do is to keep fossil fuels in the ground“, he adds. “We certainly need to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but this task is made more difficult as there are more carbon emissions to manage“.
The European Union has already taken steps to prevent companies from currying favor with the public through green laundering. Last year, the European Parliament voted to ban companies from proclaiming themselves “carbon neutral” through offsets alone.
The facts are increasingly clear: the best way to fight climate change is to reduce emissions at source.
“Celebrities who want to set a good example should show how they directly reduce their emissions“, explains James King.
“And not by polluting first and then trying to fix it“.
2024-02-05 13:17:37
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