Private jets produced an estimated 19.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2023, a 25% increase over the past decade, according to a new report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The emissions from these flights accounted for nearly 4% of all civil aviation emissions at their post-pandemic peak—surpassing the total emissions from all flights departing London Heathrow Airport last year.
The ICCT’s study marks the first detailed global analysis of private jet emissions, filling a critical data gap in aviation’s climate impact. Researchers used global flight trajectory data (ADS-B) and public emissions models to map over 90% of private jet activity and allocate emissions by country and airport.
“Private jets are a surprisingly large source of air and climate pollution,” said Daniel Sitompul, Aviation Fellow at the ICCT. “A typical private jet emits as many greenhouse gases each year as 177 passenger cars or nine heavy-duty highway trucks.”
The United States emerged as the dominant source of private jet pollution in 2023, with 65% of all private jet departures and 55% of global emissions. The European Union followed at 12%, with French flights contributing a quarter of the bloc’s total. Notably, 18 of the 20 highest-emitting private jet airports were located in the U.S., including Los Angeles’s Van Nuys Airport—ranked third globally for private jet pollution. The airport, situated in a predominantly Hispanic and lower-income neighbourhood, is a known base for celebrity-owned aircraft.
The study’s release coincides with mounting pressure on the aviation industry to address its environmental footprint. Policymakers are considering taxes on private jet emissions, with the ICCT estimating that a global fuel tax of $1.59 per gallon could generate up to $3 billion annually for decarbonisation efforts.
“As wealth inequality explodes globally, policymakers have begun asking why private jet taxes are so low,” said Dan Rutherford, ICCT’s Senior Director of Research. “Given the slow pace of technological progress, it’s reasonable to charge ultrawealthy travelers more for their pollution.”
