Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has called for a ban on private jets, arguing that 1% of the global population is responsible for half of the world’s aviation emissions.

A report compiled by Delft-based CE Research shows that in the Netherlands alone, the number of private flights departing from Dutch airports increased from 2,484 in 2020 to 12,176 flights in 2022. This, the report said, means CO2 emissions have increased from 6,763 tonnes to 52,923 tonnes.

The most frequently used Dutch route for private aviation was between Amsterdam and London, the researchers found. The shortest used route for private aviation was the route between Maastricht and Liege (37 kilometres).

‘The super rich proudly accelerate the climate crisis, showing off their planet-wrecking lifestyle. Let’s stop this reckless behaviour,’ Greenpeace said in a call to action.

‘Private jets are the epitome of social and climate injustice: a supremely privileged minority flying like there’s no tomorrow without any restriction, while 80% of the global population has never even been on a plane and is most heavily impacted by the climate crisis.’

The report looks at the use of private jets in 30 European countries and includes medical or military flights, if they were executed with aircraft typically used in business aviation.

It concludes that the 572,806 flights by private jet in 2022 led to about 3,385,538 tonnes of CO2 emissions, as the sector recovered from the coronavirus pandemic.

Last November and earlier this year activists blockaded the private jet parks at both Schiphol and Eindhoven airports, leading to hundreds of arrests.