AgoraOct 7, 2023
Bread and Circuses

Private jets are a luxury for the ultra-rich who wreck the planet with destructive lifestyles.

North America (basically the USA) is home to more private jets than all other regions of the world COMBINED.

Private jets are ~10 times more polluting per passenger than scheduled flights, and 50 times more than an average train ride.

It's time to #BanPrivateJets ‼

#Capitalism #Pollution #CO2 #Emissions #ClimateCrisis

May 19, 2023 at 1:30pmWeb
Show threadDr Keith WalkerMay 19, 2023
@breadandcircuses Of course, the priority will be all the things which affect ordinary folk, lest those doing the banning affect their own wanton habits.
Show threadBlueWindsMay 19, 2023

@breadandcircuses Where does 50 times more than the average train ride come from?

My back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest it should be hundreds or thousands of times more polluting, not 50!

(which, of course, doubles down on the point you're making)

Show threadBaron Woke of CarlsbergMay 19, 2023

@breadandcircuses

Absolutely.

Probably the easiest policy decision governments could ever make.

Sadly, also the least likely policy decision governments will ever make.

Can't upset the donors.

Climate disaster in a nutshell.

Show threadScott KnowlesMay 19, 2023
@breadandcircuses The vast extent of small private aircraft doesn't help the environment. I live a mile from local airport (great for NWS weather station) and 30 miles from Sea-Tac International airport, and many days small, private aircraft outnumber commercial aircraft by several times (Plane Finder app). Most of private aircraft are just flying around Puget Sound, some in endless touch and gos or instruction flights. Some just fly to other local airports just to fly.
Show thread𝕯𝖎𝖒𝖎May 20, 2023

@breadandcircuses
Not saying private jets should or shouldn't be banned, but is it the best place to focus energy?

Pushing government to accept and enforce reinjection of co2 into concrete would have a way more dramatic impact on the total co2 prod. Same for biofuels or investment in industrialization of upcycling through plastics pyrolysis.
@dibi58

Show threadNablaMay 21, 2023
@breadandcircuses hi, I’d actually have a question in this regard. I used to go gliding (I.e flying engineless aircraft) in my free time (before university took up most of that), now if I end up with more time on my hands, I’d love to go flying again, but will probably opt for powered flight (or at least some sort of „backup engine“ in case of a glider, because rules have gotten tighter over the years and also due to the limited time I’d like to maximize flying time.
Show threadNablaMay 21, 2023
@breadandcircuses I do understand that flying a „private“ aircraft in such a manner is still pretty resource intensive, however with the rise of UL aircraft and a new generation of engines they have become about as efficient as luxury cars. Then there are developments like the Otto aviation Celera 500 that does about 21 miles to the gallon. How do you view these developments in light of your proposed ban? How do you think about the future of aviation?
Show threadNablaMay 21, 2023
@breadandcircuses for me Aircraft have a particular awe to them. The tech and the ingenuity inspire me and to that extent I’d hate to see aviation disappear(even though I’m sure that won’t happen in any case). How would you propose to keep those aspects around while effectively (not in a greenwashing sense that is often seen with lege corporations) reducing the impact aviation has and the unequal ways it is utilized?
Show threaddodgy theoriesSep 23, 2023

@Nabla @breadandcircuses

Aviation is a genuine benefit.... but something that we can't achieve without fossil fuels.

But many other things can be done that reduce energy use and improve quality of life. Eg insulate homes. Massively improve buses and bike lanes in cities. Work on clean air....

So maybe concentrate on those?

Show threadJohn Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺May 21, 2023

@breadandcircuses

Instead of banning private jets, how about taxing them to pay for high-speed electric railways?

Show threadCodeByJeff - Now with AI!May 21, 2023

@breadandcircuses while I agree with the sentiment

trying to rally people around "tell Congress to take away the favorite toy of the rich people who keep them in power"

makes you look like a silly, impractical college child

I'm not sure what to tell you to do in this case, but I think your efforts could be better spent on getting more public transport for the masses

Show threadDer Entgegner (Aka Ratatöskr)Sep 23, 2023
@breadandcircuses be prepared for the Lamento "mimimi, you are driving away investors, this planet is getting unattractive for rich people"
Well? So be it.
Show threadCMDR R Mons, Graham LinuxSep 23, 2023
@breadandcircuses I remember watching a British TV show about 20 years ago and they analyzed a celebrities lifestyle and calculated that if everyone on the planet lived the same way as he did, it would take 7 earth's to support the population. Back then I guess the world's population was 6 billion. Anyway I haven't noticed any change in his lifestyle so I guess he just doesn't care.
Show threadBc Clarity Carlton-MartinSep 23, 2023
@breadandcircuses The atmosphere is being stratified further via LEO launches for SpaceX. Carbon Dioxide does not leave unless the rest of the atmosphere goes with it. Maybe an asteroid will take care of our excesses and we should drink more tequila. Just kidding.
Show threadLstn2urmama 🇨🇦Sep 24, 2023
@breadandcircuses ..would be a great start...
Show threadRichard #ClimateAction #FBPESep 24, 2023
@breadandcircuses The current British Prime Minister Sunak is renowned for flying around in one for photo ops. He has no concern for climate change whatsoever and skipped the recent UN meeting to give a speech delaying our already inadequate Net Zero targets.
Show threadPonygirlSep 24, 2023
@breadandcircuses Hear hear!!!
Show threadTC Won't Give In To LiesSep 24, 2023

@breadandcircuses
No need to ban, if we:
- Don't make private jets deductible
- 100% tax
- yearly carbon tax

If we stopped subsidizing private jets for the rich, there would be a lot less of them.
#TaxTheRich