Pop icon Taylor Swift’s arrival in Baltimore for the AFC Championship game to support her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, has ignited controversy over the environmental impact of her private jet travel. Swift’s Dassault Falcon 7X journey from New Jersey to Baltimore, covering a mere 164 miles, reportedly generated three tons of CO2 emissions and cost $1,328 for 1,589 lbs of jet fuel.
According to a Reddit thread tracking Swift’s jet movements, her flights to NFL games over three months have resulted in 138 tons of emissions, positioning her as one of the highest carbon-emitting celebrities globally. A representative for Swift defended her environmental practices, stating she had purchased double the required carbon credits for her Eras tour, aiming to offset her personal emissions.
Critics argue that carbon offsets, referred to as “climate indulgences,” often serve as symbolic gestures rather than effective emissions reduction strategies. The Wall Street Journal editorial board contends that these offsets allow companies and individuals to virtue signal without significantly contributing to emission reduction.
In 2023, Swift’s jet reportedly had an average flight time of 80 minutes, producing over 1194 times more carbon emissions than the average person. Swift’s representative countered claims, noting that her jet is frequently loaned to others, challenging attributions of all trips solely to Swift.
In 2022, Swift faced criticism as the world’s most polluting celebrity, generating 8,240 metric tons of flight emissions—1,185 times more than the average person’s annual emissions—according to sustainability marketing agency Yard. Despite such scrutiny, Swift’s environmental practices remain a subject of ongoing debate and discussion.