In the realm of chart-topping tracks, a glamorous lifestyle, and a blossoming romance, Taylor Swift continues to be not just a musical sensation but also a cultural icon for countless admirers. However, even the most devoted Swifties can’t overlook her extensive use of private jets. As Swift tours the world, attends NFL matches and navigates legal battles, her environmental impact becomes a topic of concern.
Taylor Swift has been on her famous The Eras Tour since the 17th of March 2023, with the long stint ending on the 8th of December 2024. Throughout this extensive tour, spanning five of seven continents, she has serenaded the audiences with her most beloved songs from her entire discography.
Recent scrutiny arose when Swift undertook a mere 13-minute flight from Cahokia to St Louis in Missouri. A journey that covers just 28 miles, a distance easily travelled by car. Her private jet usage was posted on X (formally known as twitter) by user @SwiftJetNextDay, (now identified as Jack Sweeney).
The incident sparked outrage among some, with Twitter users expressing disappointment at what they perceived as unsustainable behaviour.
One user, @ToasterTrash_, replied to the tweet saying “It's a 30-minute drive. She has enough money that she isn't on anyone's clock. This is eco terrorism”.
With another user, @ratedpaulie, commenting “dw guys I'm using my paper straw.”
It is almost understandable for people to feel outraged at this flight, with many trying to conserve energy in the best way possible: bringing reusable water bottles and coffee cups with us, turning off lights when we leave the room, and walking when we can.
According to carboncredits.com, Swift emitted a total of 393 Mt of CO2, in February alone from 11 Eras Tour shows in Japan and Australia.
Jack Sweeney, the college student behind the X profile @SwiftJetNextDay. Sweeney is also responsible for the Instagram account @taylorswiftjets and the website grndcntrl.net.
Sweeney is facing legal action from Swift’s team with claims that his posts are stalker-like and dangerous to Swift’s safety.
Sweeney is a college junior at the University of Florida, studying information technology. His fascination for flights and aviation comes from his Father, who is a technical operations controller for American Airlines.
His website, GRNDCTRL, uses public information posted by the Federal Aviation Administration, where he shares flight information and fuel usage and emissions of many celebrities, such as Elon Musk and Kylie Jenner. Not just Taylor Swift.
Yet his X profile and Instagram account, devoted to Swift's usage, seems to be much more targeted towards her, than any other celebrity he tracks on his website.
Swift’s lawyers sent Sweeney a cease-and-desist letter, due to the claims that the amount posed safety threats by sharing real-time updates on the whereabouts of Swift and her private jet. Despite the legal ramifications, Swift’s private jet usage remains a topic of discussion. Her decision to sell her $40 million private jet following the legal dispute garnered attention, although it seems unlikely she will opt for a commercial flight anytime soon, given her ownership of a Dassault Falcon 7X.
A jet which has room for 19 passengers and 3 crew members, which Swift has continued to use frequently to travel to and from the US during this leg of The Eras Tour.
Data was collected from the myclimate Carbon Tracker, which ranks celebrities who have travelled the most by private jet. Yet Swift did not make it onto the list.
The company is known as a non-profit climate protection organisation and is based in Switzerland. The organisation states on their website that “The myclimate Carbon Tracker uses public domain flight trackers, concert databases and social media posts from influencers and celebrities to list flights, collect emissions data and also post critical, direct queries on social media. The results are made visible in a large carbon ranking.”
The company released a list of the top 30 celebrities who had the highest private jet emissions of 2023. With the likes of artists, actors, and sporting stars making the list, from Beyonce and Jay-Z to Bill Gates and Kim Kardashian. American rapper Travis Scott takes the top spot, having taken 137 flights in his private jet, travelling 330,145km and producing a massive 6,061,300 kg of CO2 Emissions.
There is some speculation on whether the list can be seen as accurate, as Paul Allen, an American businessman, who died in 2018, was mentioned on the list as celebrity number 17.
Although it is unclear whether the jet that belonged to him is being used by friends and family, and is why he made it onto the list.
Despite Swift not making an appearance on this list, her environmental impact cannot be overlooked. As a cultural icon with global success, she possesses the power to influence change for multiple generations. Although Swift herself may not be solely responsible for the environmental impact of her tour, her status within society by influencing others could be the real promoter of sustainability within the music industry.
We can only wait in anticipation to see whether Swift and other celebrities alike control their private jet usage and lower their carbon emissions.
Variety