Singer Taylor Swift is under fire for her use of a private jet during her recent tour in Australia, sparking criticism over her environmental impact

Taylor Swift, 33, has faced criticism for her use of a private jet during her tour in Australia. The singer’s Bombardier Global 6000 private jet has drawn attention for its significant carbon emissions. Swift flew to Australia in the jet to begin her tour and used it for travel between Melbourne and Sydney, a journey that can be completed by car in just over nine hours and is also serviced by commercial airlines.

The controversy deepened when Swift sent the jet to Hawaii to pick up her boyfriend, Travis Kelce, so he could join her in Sydney for a performance. The singer and her entourage then departed from Australia to continue the tour in Singapore.

In response to the criticism, a spokesperson for Swift stated that she had purchased ‘carbon credits’ to offset the emissions from her tour. However, Australians have expressed disappointment in the singer’s choice to use a private jet, especially considering her previous statements about climate change.

One person commented, “If [climate change] is a catastrophe, then why are celebs allowed to fly around the world in their private jets? Like, Taylor Swift seems to use hers like a car.”

Another wrote, “Imma minimize my footprint so some oil rig in the ocean blows up and Taylor Swift can take her private jet to go to the supermarket.”

The use of private jets is known to have a significant environmental impact, with one jet emitting as much as two tonnes of carbon dioxide per hour. Critics argue that offsetting emissions through practices like carbon credits allows the wealthy to justify their carbon-heavy lifestyles without truly reducing their impact on climate change.

Hannah Lawrence from the climate action network Stay Grounded criticised Swift’s use of carbon offsetting, stating, “Taylor Swift justifies her private jet use through carbon offsetting but this is actually worse than doing nothing as it takes resources from the global majority to justify the outrageous emissions of a wealthy minority.