Prince Charles has been known for his environmental efforts and fight against climate change. He even met the famed environmental activist Greta Thunberg at the World Economic Forum in Davos, launching a move to "rapid decarbonization" and suggesting having more sustainable markets. However, his flight details seem to contradict these practices. The Prince of Wales reportedly chartered a number of private flights this month alone, flying almost 8,000 miles, emitting nearly 75 tons of carbon, and half of it was even flown without any passengers on board.
According to Express, the heir to the throne's flights produced over 18 times the average Briton's yearly carbon output. Sadly, five out of the eight flights had no passengers on board.
His official royal businesses, like his visit to Oman from Scotland and then back to Sandringham and fly to Scotland once again before heading to Davos, took him four private flights. However, the jets and helicopters he boarded took five trips without any passengers, flying a total of 7,824 miles, emitting 74.7 tons of carbon.
How did it happen? An empty private jet from Vienna went to Scotland to pick up Prince Charles to send him to Muscat, Oman. It would then return to Vienna with no passenger. Another empty plane from Luton was sent to Muscat to pick him up again after the original flight crew exceeded their hours.
An empty helicopter from Hampshire was also dispatched to fetch Prince Charles and bring him to Sandringham. It would then return empty to Hampshire after dropping him off in Scotland.
In just 11 days, his flights traveled over 16,000 miles that emitted more than 162 tons of carbon. When the future king flew from Scotland to Davos, he traveled another 1,740 miles by jet to commence his Israel tour.
Hence, it was quite an embarrassment when Prince Charles lectured world leaders about climate change while taking a series of private jet flights. He even used an electric Jaguar car to go to the Swiss resort to meet Greta Thunberg, per Daily Mail Online.
"Climate targets can't be met without cutting pollution from aviation emissions, and private jets are a particularly wasteful way to travel," Muna Suleiman from Friends of the Earth said about Prince Charles' flight details. However, a royal source defended Princes William and Harry's father, saying if there is a more efficient way of traveling, being an activist against global warming for 50 years, he will surely be the first one to adopt it.
