Taylor Swift reduces private jet collection as environmental concerns grab spotlight
Global pop star and a frequent recipient of Grammy Awards, Taylor Swift is back in the headlines – this time for selling one of her private jets, purchased in 2011 for $40 million, to a car insurance company based in Missouri for around $7 million.
The development comes shortly after the issuing of legal threats against university student Jack Sweeney, who had been uploading publicly available information about the landings and takeoffs of private jets, including Swift’s, on social media platforms.
The singer’s legal team warned the student of legal action if he didn’t stop his activities, citing emotional and physical distress. Nonetheless, environmental campaigners have been prominently vocal about Swift’s extensive use of private jets, as per the Economic Times.
Taylor Swift’s 13-minute flight sparks controversy
Critics continue to emphasise the jets’ significant contribution to environmental pollution. Private jets are reported to be 5 to 14 times more polluting for passenger than commercial planes and 50 times more polluting than trains, Transport and Environment said.
Taylor Swift’s jet usage has been controversial, particularly for her short-distance commutes that could easily be covered by road, including a 13-minute flight from St. Louis Downtown Airport in Illinois to Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Missouri.
The star’s case highlights the broader issues surrounding the disproportionate contribution of the rich and powerful to carbon emissions and climate change. The top 1% of the global population collectively emit more GHG than the poorest 50%.
COP28 Dubai operationalises Loss and Damage Fund
This notorious inequality is also prominent among countries as industrialised nations are responsible for the majority of historical emissions. It is important to address the inequality as climate justice and socio-economic equity share an intrinsic connection.
Participants at the recently concluded COP28 climate conference in Dubai agreed to operationalise the landmark Loss and Damage Fund, in an effort to compensate the most vulnerable countries for the brutal consequences of climate change.
The event marked multiple successes as scores of countries at the Summit also acknowledged the need to transition away from fossil fuels, in order to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels – as per the 2015 Paris agreement.
Read More: Indian entrepreneur Nikhil Kamath unveils $602,000 climate fund: Key details inside
