The World Economic Forum in Davos is facing renewed criticism after a new report by Greenpeace revealed a sharp rise in private jet flights linked to the 2025 annual meeting. The findings have reignited debate over climate responsibility. In addition, they highlight the gap between environmental promises and the behavior of global elites who attend the event.
According to the Greenpeace report, 709 additional private jet flights landed at airports near Davos during the 2025 forum. This figure represents a 10 percent increase compared to 2024. It is also three times higher than the number recorded in 2023.
Greenpeace described the situation as turning Davos into a “private jet shuttle hub,” a phrase that has since been widely shared by environmental campaigners and media outlets.
The report Titled Davos in the Sky explains that the rise in private jet use cannot be explained by higher attendance. The number of participants at the forum has remained broadly stable over the past three years. Instead, Greenpeace says the increase comes from more frequent use of private jets by the same individuals. This includes short-distance flights and repeated return journeys during the meeting week.
Greenpeace researchers analyzed flight traffic at several airports commonly used by Davos attendees, including Zurich and Geneva, as well as smaller regional airports. They compared aircraft movements during the forum week with traffic levels before and after the event.
The sharp spike during the meeting period, followed by a rapid drop once the forum ended, strongly shows that the additional flights were directly linked to the World Economic Forum.
Greenpeace estimates that nearly 70 percent of private jet trips to Davos could have been avoided. Many journeys originated from nearby European countries where high-speed rail connections already exist and could have been used instead.
Environmental groups argue that private jet travel carries an extremely high climate cost. A private jet can emit up to ten times more carbon dioxide per passenger than a commercial flight and far more than rail travel. Greenpeace said many of the flights recorded were short-haul journeys within Europe that could easily have been completed by train in a single day.
The report estimates that around 70 percent of the private jet trips to Davos in 2025 could have been avoided. Many flights originated in nearby countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and Germany, where fast and reliable rail connections already exist. Greenpeace said this makes the environmental impact even harder to justify.
The findings have renewed accusations of “climate hypocrisy” against political and business leaders who attend the forum. Climate change, sustainability, and green investment are central topics at Davos every year. Critics argue that arriving by private jet sends the opposite message to the public. This is especially true at a time when governments are asking citizens to reduce energy use and accept higher living costs to meet climate targets.
Critics argue that arriving by private jet sends the opposite message to the public, especially at a time when governments are asking citizens to reduce energy use and accept higher living costs to meet climate targets.
Greenpeace said the growing use of private aviation by wealthy individuals shows a wider problem of inequality in global emissions. While ordinary people are encouraged to change daily habits, the richest travelers continue to use the most polluting forms of transport. Campaigners argue that this imbalance weakens public trust in climate policies and global leadership.
Several economists and policy experts have also argued that taxing luxury aviation would be one of the fastest ways to cut emissions from the transport sector, which remains one of the largest contributors to global warming. Supporters of the idea say private aviation represents a small number of travelers. Yet it produces outsized environmental damage.
“It’s pure hypocrisy that the world’s most powerful and super-rich elite discuss global challenges and progress in Davos, while they literally burn the planet with the emissions of their private jets,” says Herwig Schuster of Greenpeace Austria reported by EuroNews.
Greenpeace used flight tracking data from independent aviation monitoring systems that record aircraft transponder signals. The analysis focused on seven airports around Davos and measured unusual increases in private jet activity during the forum.
The report also notes that some flights may not have been fully captured, including so-called “empty leg” flights, where jets travel without passengers. This means the real climate impact could be even higher than the numbers suggest.
The World Economic Forum has previously stated that it supports sustainability initiatives and encourages participants to offset emissions. The organization also points to its discussions on climate finance, green technology, and nature protection as evidence of its commitment to environmental issues.
However, critics argue that carbon offsets do not solve the problem of rising emissions and cannot replace real reductions in high-pollution activities.
Beyond emissions, the controversy has become a symbol of global inequality and elite privilege. Activists say Davos represents a system where powerful individuals shape climate policies while personally contributing to the crisis.
