When you think of common celebrities, your mind is often immediately directed to the drama surrounding them. Although, a more recent topic regarding celebrities is how their seemingly glamorous tours and travels affect the environment– specifically, their impact on carbon emissions. They have been targeting famous popstar Taylor Swift, as she has been traveling the globe on her world tour, ‘The Eras Tour’, via private jet rather than public transportation. To what extent are celebrities harming the environment, in reality? 

In order to put the severity of celebrity carbon emissions into perspective, the statistics behind the issue must be examined. The average person emits anywhere between four to sixteen tons of carbon per year. In comparison, the average celebrity emits an average of 3,376.64 tons of CO2 annually, according to a study conducted by Yard. Celebrities contribute a disproportionate amount of carbon emissions compared to the average person. The main culprit of their high emissions? Flying private jets. 

According to Yard, the celebrities with the most extreme emissions include Taylor Swift, Floyd Mayweather, and Jay-Z. Other notable celebrities emitting high amounts of carbon dioxide are Steven Spielberg, Kim Kardashian, Oprah Winfrey, and Travis Scott. The thing that all of these celebrities have in common is that their high level of emissions stem from the use of private aircraft.  

Private jets emit at least ten times the amount of CO2 per passenger than the normal commercial plane. A study by High Flyers 2023, a private aircraft flight emitted 7,913 pounds of carbon per passenger, whereas commercial flights going the same distance emitted 174 pounds. Celebrities usually choose to fly private jets due to a desire for privacy, as it would be difficult for those showered with fame to fly normal passenger planes alongside countless fans. They also may choose private jets over regular aircraft for the convenience of going to smaller airports with fewer planes and less public attention. Although they have their own reasons, as well as enough money, to choose private jets over commercial flights, celebrities are still contributing an enormous deal to the continuously growing issue of global warming. 

The top culprit of high carbon emissions is the case of Taylor Swift. In 2023 alone, her total flight emissions was reportedly 8,293.54 tons, which is over a thousand times the annual emissions of the average person. Compared to other celebrities, the singer has been most criticized for her high amount of carbon emissions, especially since the beginning of the Eras Tour, which has required her to travel across the globe to perform. This topic has stirred controversy– some argue that Swift is destroying the environment and needs to stop traveling by private jet, while others point out that her intense fame would make it extremely difficult, uncomfortable, and possibly even dangerous for her to travel on regular flights. It is also intriguing to note that Taylor Swift is receiving more hate for her carbon footprint than any other celebrity. While she may be the top emitter, there are still countless other celebrities with very similar numbers to her that are not receiving the same level of criticism. 

Some of the most famous people in the world such as Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Oprah are top contributors to global warming due to their use of private jets. A few have recognized the severity of the issue and are taking steps to improve, such as Taylor Swift through the purchase of carbon credits. Regardless of their efforts, the dangers of climate change have effectively sparked a controversy about the morals and ethics of celebrities.