Taylor Swift has been in the spotlight not just for her music success and the Eras Tour but also for her frequent utilization of private jets. It is widely recognized that private jet travel has the most detrimental impact on the environment in terms of emissions per mile per passenger. As per a Livemint report, research by ‘A Yard Study’ identified Swift as the top celebrity contributor to CO2 emissions in 2022, a title she reportedly maintained in 2023.
A recent UNILAD report revealed that in 2023, Taylor Swift flew on her private jet 12 times to be with her new romantic interest, Travis Kelce, from Kansas City. While a romantic gesture, this frequent jet travel raises environmental concerns. The report estimated that these flights consumed 12,622 gallons of jet fuel, amounting to $70,779 in fuel costs. Additionally, a Formula 1 fan created a humorous video mocking her jet usage.
Taylor Swift’s flights have resulted in 138 tons of CO2 emissions
Criticism has often been directed at Swift for her substantial carbon footprint due to her ownership of two high-end aircraft: a Dassault Falcon 7x and a Dassault Falcon 900. According to UNILAD, Swift’s trips in 2023 to visit her partner have generated a total of 138 tons of CO2 emissions. To contextualize, this is equivalent to the energy consumption of 17 homes for a year or the electricity usage of 26.9 homes annually.
The Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator indicates that the emissions from her flights would necessitate planting roughly 2,282 trees and allowing them to mature over a decade to counterbalance the environmental impact of 138 tons of CO2 emissions. Despite environmental reservations, Swift and Kelce continued their frequent travels to support each other’s endeavors. Recently, an F1 fan shared a comical video on X titled “Taylor Swift Abu Dhabi GP hotlap.”
In defense of her actions, Swift’s spokesperson mentioned that she had procured more than double the required carbon credits to offset all tour-related travel even before the commencement of the Eras Tour in March 2023. These additional credits were intended to cover the extra flights taken to attend Kelce’s events and her scheduled tour travels.
Swift threatens legal action against the student monitoring her flights
Taylor Swift’s lawyers have issued a legal threat against a young student named Jack Sweeney, known for tracking celebrities’ flight movements, including Swift’s private jets. Sweeney, who uses publicly available data for monitoring and sharing this information online, has been warned of a potential lawsuit by Swift’s legal team. They say the singer is in grave danger since this tracking is tantamount to “stalking” her.
As reported by BBC, Swift’s legal representatives underscore the history of stalkers the singer has encountered and assert that Sweeney’s data could offer them “a roadmap to carry out their plans”. They depict the situation as a “life-or-death matter” for Swift, contending that the shared flight details present “an imminent threat to her safety and well-being.”
Sweeney has clarified that he harbors no ill intentions towards Swift. In a statement to BBC, he emphasized, “Nowhere do I intend for harm. I actually think Swift has some good songs. I believe in transparency and public information.”