Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft and climate activist, repeated an argument used previously by John Kerry, Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry, to defend his private jet.
Gates and Kerry both support a rapid reduction in fossil fuels. However, they have stated that private jets that consume more gas than necessary to achieve their goals. They also claimed that any emissions they create would be offset by their use of clean energy in other areas of their lives and their green business ventures.
Climeworks, a European company that specializes on carbon capture technology to remove emissions from the atmosphere, is Climeworks. The company signed a 10-year agreement with Microsoft last year to become the first supplier of technology-based, long-term carbon removal.
Gates has donated millions to numerous climate technology and carbon removal companies through Breakthrough Energy. This organization invests in sustainable innovation projects. Gates Ventures is one of many funding partners for ClimateWorks, an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing climate solutions and technology.
Gates and Kerry, global climate activists, have been repeatedly criticised for using private jets to travel around the globe. According to a report by Transport & Environment in 2021, private jet travel is the most carbon-intensive mode for transportation. It emits 10x more carbon than commercial aircrafts, and 50x more than trains.
Kerry made these comments after he flew to Iceland in a private plane to accept an environmental award.
It is not clear how Kerry offset his private jet emissions. Fox News Digital reported that Kerry’s family plane has emitted more then 300 metric tons since January 2021 when President Biden appointed him as his climate czar.
Kerry recently chose to fly commercial airlines for official business travel after being criticised.