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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are getting flack again, this time for flying from California to Las Vegas and back on a private jet to attend a Katy Perry concert.

Not only are they in hot water for taking a fuel-guzzling, carbon dioxide-spewing luxury air lounge across approximately 300 kilometres of land, but they did it with the Texan oil heir Michael Herd’s private airline.

The couple accompanied Cameron Diaz and her husband Benji Madden, as well as actress Zoe Saldana, on a 40-minute Gulfstream private jet, which is jointly owned by Herd, who has become quite close to the Sussexes in recent months together with his wife Whitney Wolfe, who also happens to be the billionaire founder of the dating app Bumble.

As such, Harry and Meghan have been labelled “eco-hypocrites” for previously talking about protecting our planet’s environment while also copping a lift on a jet that reportedly emits an estimated two tons of carbon dioxide an hour.

Meaww reports that the 2009 Gulfstream jet emits approximately 1.8 tonnes of CO2 each hour, which is over a fifth of the 7.4 tons produced by the average British citizen each year. Per the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius, each person’s carbon budget should be no more than 2.1 tons per year.

 

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The Duke had previously established his charity Travalyst to promote sustainable and eco-friendly tourism, while also warning the United Nations about the growing perils of climate change last year, per The Independent.

In an impassioned speech, he said: “Our world is on fire again. And these historic weather events are no longer historic. More and more, they are part of our daily lives, and this crisis will only grow worse.”

Likewise, in a joint statement on Instagram in 2019, the couple wrote:

“There is a ticking clock to protect our planet – with climate change, the deterioration of our natural resources, endangerment of sacred wildlife, the impact of plastics and microplastics, and fossil fuel emissions, we are jeopardising this beautiful place we call home – for ourselves and for future generations.”

However much ire is lobbied at the Duke, he has said in the past that he likely will not stop flying private planes any time soon as there are “unique circumstances” in which he feels he has to fly private to ensure the safety of his family.

He explained in 2019: “Occasionally, there needs to be an opportunity [to fly on private planes] based on a unique circumstance to ensure that my family are safe – it’s as simple as that.”

“For me, it’s about balance. It’s not a decision I would want to take, but if I have to do that, I will ensure that I balance out the impact that I have,” he added.

As Talk TV host Kevin O’Sullivan joked, “Saving the planet one Katy Perry concert at a time!”

In 2019, Harry and Meghan were also chastised for taking four private jet trips in just 11 days, including one to Sir Elton John’s house in Nice. They also took a private plane to the Caribbean in October after attending a symposium on the impact of climate change on mental health.

Prince Harry said in 2021 that “climate change and mental health are two of the most pressing issues that we’re facing and, in many ways, they are linked”.

Mmmhmm.

[source:independent&meaww]