COP26 by private jet

Of course, I wouldn’t expect heads of state to fly economy class to Glasgow to attend the COP26. Of course the billionaires and titans of industry attending the gathering have such busy schedules that only a flight by private jet at the timing of their convenience could guarantee the best use of their very precious time.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos arrived in a £48 million Gulfstream jet, followed by dozens of others all intent on discussing how we can limit our impact on the environment. According to a report in MailOnline, over 400 private jets arrived in Scotland for the conference, causing a traffic jam that forced empty planes to fly 30 miles to find a space to park.

In this respect we probably have to be grateful that the global travels by the COP26 president (see my previous post) were at least on scheduled flights, although probably not in economy. Thanks to Covid-19 many of us have learned to hold meetings online, and while it is always more pleasant and certainly more productive to meet in person, ultimately I suspect it is not the highflyers of this world who are going to achieve anything in Scotland, but the low-key attendees who get no or hardly any coverage in the media, but who will ultimately work out the details of any measures agreed and will have to make sure that they stick.

According to metro.co.uk, the website of a free British newspaper, the richest 1 percent of Britain’s population produce 11 times the amount of carbon emissions of someone in the poorest half. The chief executive of Oxfam GB, a charity, hits the nail on the head when he criticises that the poorest people in the world have to pick up the bill run up by the wealthiest. Oxfam’s analysis showed the wealthiest 1 per cent were the only group in the UK whose total consumption emissions remained stable between 1990 and 2015. All other income groups reduced their carbon footprint over the period, while emissions across the population as a whole fell by 12 per cent. The proverb ‘do as I say, not as I do’ inevitably springs to mind.

I am all in favour of doing my bit to protect the environment and keep my carbon footprint to a minimum. But I seriously struggle with being lectured how I should live my life by billionaires whose carbon footprint at the best of times is a multiple of mine. Jeff Bezos in his speech pleaded with the world to protect the fragile nature: I was taught to lead by example, or at least not to do unto others what I don’t want done unto me. I can’t see much leadership by many of the high profile attendees at the Glasgow shindig, so forgive me if I am somewhat cynical about their contribution to the event.