‘Pure hypocrisy’: WEF slammed for soaring use of private jets to Davos

illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos is facing renewed criticism after data showed a sharp surge in private jet flights, reigniting calls for a tax on the super-rich

🔭 The context: An analysis by Greenpeace found that during the 2025 WEF week, 709 additional private jet flights landed at nearby airports — a 10% rise from 2024 and three times higher than in 2023
• Attendance stayed broadly flat, suggesting higher emissions without more participants

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Private jets are among the most carbon-intensive forms of travel
• It undermines Davos’ stated goal of building prosperity “within planetary boundaries.”
• Greenpeace estimates 70% of these trips could have been replaced by rail, highlighting avoidable emissions at a summit focused on climate, nature loss, and sustainability

⏭️ What’s next: Environmental groups are pushing governments to back global tax rules on luxury aviation, including private jets and premium-class flights, as part of ongoing UN tax negotiations running through 2027

💬 One quote: “It’s pure hypocrisy that the world’s most powerful and super-rich elite discuss global challenges in Davos while they literally burn the planet.” — Herwig Schuster, Greenpeace Austria

📈 One stat: 709 — extra private jet flights recorded near Davos during one WEF week

See on illuminem's Data Hub™ the sustainability performance — carbon credit purchases, total emissions, and climate targets of thousands of companies

Click for more news covering the latest on ethical goverance and sustainable mobility