Climate activists in the UK recently staged a protest at a private airfield located within Stansted Airport, purportedly targeting an aircraft that had reportedly transported American singer Taylor Swift just hours earlier. According to AFP, two women affiliated with the activist group 'Just Stop Oil' were apprehended by law enforcement in connection with the incident.
Reported by The Telegraph, the activists initially intended to target Taylor Swift's jet but were unable to locate it. Consequently, they resorted to spraying two other private jets with orange paint as part of their demonstration. The individuals, aged 22 and 28, utilized fire extinguishers filled with orange paint to carry out their protest action.
Additionally, the group shared a video on social media platform X depicting one of the activists cutting through a fence to gain access to the airfield, underscoring their determination to draw attention to their cause.
"Just Stop Oil" emphasized their environmental message with a tweet stating, "Private jet users are responsible for up to 40 times as much carbon emissions compared with a commercial flight."
One of the core demands of the 'Just Stop Oil' group is for the British government to commit legally to eliminating fossil fuels by the year 2030.
This incident occurred shortly after another high-profile act of protest by climate activists, who defaced Stonehenge, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site located in southwest England.
Taylor Swift, who is slated to perform at Wembley Stadium on multiple dates this week, has faced criticism in recent years for her frequent use of private jets. In a 2022 report, she was highlighted as one of the celebrities with the highest CO2 emissions from private jet travel.
Throughout 2022, Swift's jet reportedly made 170 flights, resulting in total emissions of 8,293.54 tonnes. This figure represents approximately 1,184.8 times the average emissions generated by an individual that year, further fueling the ongoing debate surrounding the environmental impact of private air travel by celebrities and public figures.
