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EU Court Says Private Jets Now Count As ‘Green’ Investments (novaramedia.com)

submitted 3 months ago by theacharnian@lemmy.ca to c/nottheonion@lemmy.world

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cross-posted from: https://infosec.pub/post/48796725

An EU court has said the manufacture of private jets can’t be excluded from a list of activities deemed to be environmentally sustainable, fuelling concerns about the greenwashing of the emissions of the super-rich.

The list, intended to provide an ⁠overview of green investments, previously excluded aircraft for private or commercial business aviation due to their high emissions compared with other forms of transport following a 2023 decision by the European Commission.

The court argued that the 2023 ruling was made with a number of errors, including that other modes of transport couldn’t necessarily be seen as low-carbon alternatives as they “lack the flexibility and speed” of private jets.

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[-] VexLogic@feddit.online 179 points 3 months ago

Ya know, when I first subscribed to NotTheOnion I thought the title was a bit confusing. But over time I've realized the beauty of it. Looking at these headlines and thinking to myself, "man this has got to be a joke right?" then I look up and see this is NotTheOnion, and my heart sinks 😅 We're really in the worst timeline huh guys

[-] huppakee@lemmy.world 56 points 3 months ago

Worst timeline... so far

[-] Noite_Etion@lemmy.world 70 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

transport couldn’t necessarily be seen as low-carbon alternatives as they “lack the flexibility and speed” of private jets.

Despite going through hundreds of litres of jet fuel an hour... All for one person in some cases.

Sorry trains, you aren't flexible enough... Whatever the fuck that means

The court clarified that the climate impact metric used by the Commission is about aircraft operation, while this taxonomy decision was about the manufacturing of the aircraft itself.

Oh so they agree that private jets are horrendously inefficient and ruin the environment, but they are "green" to build them so that is okay...

WTF

[-] homes@piefed.world 24 points 3 months ago

Trains literally bend. WTF

[-] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 23 points 3 months ago

Technically trains hinge.

Planes do bend

[-] TIEPilot@lemmy.world 65 points 3 months ago

And they want me to give up driving and my gas stove...

"Rules for thee, not for me"

[-] SpaceNoodle@lemmy.world 41 points 3 months ago

Getting rid of the gas stove is for your own respiratory health.

[-] Tja@programming.dev 2 points 3 months ago

Same for the combustion car. But, muh freedumbs...

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[-] br3d@lemmy.world 26 points 3 months ago

Yes. We need to do those things as well, and this travesty doesn't remove the need for all of us to decarbonise

[-] homes@piefed.world 25 points 3 months ago

You’ve been driving your gas stove?

[-] WhoIzDisIz@lemmy.today 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It gets them all hot & bothered.

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Of all the people to drive a gas stove I would have thought it'd be you, homes.

[-] Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Using the stove to heat up the water instead of coal is a natural evolution of the steam engine...

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[-] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 38 points 3 months ago

« * The court noted that the Commission had failed to take into account that ⁠private jets could be flown on sustainable fuel.

The Commission can appeal the ruling within two months. »

Not all is lost… it’s a technicality especially if sustainable fuel has a stringent definition which is exactly what I would do if I was to address this decision.

[-] huppakee@lemmy.world 12 points 3 months ago

If money is involved the owners of that money already thought of that. If it was blackmail, the individual(s) involved probably made a plan for that hurdle. But here's to hoping the Commission will do the right thing.

[-] a4ng3l@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

It’s a rather complex system here but I reckon our checks and balances are still somewhat functional. I have some trust.

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[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 7 points 3 months ago

There is no such thing as sustainable jet fuel.

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[-] wonderingwanderer@sopuli.xyz 2 points 3 months ago

could be

That "could be" is pulling a lot of weight...

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[-] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 27 points 3 months ago

What in the fuck have these people been smoking...

I can't think of a less green form of transportation besides perhaps rockets.

[-] Naich@piefed.world 14 points 3 months ago

How about a traction engine with flame throwers on the sides to burn down forests as it trundles along?

[-] GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

you forgot the methane gas exhaust system

[-] Rhaedas@fedia.io 9 points 3 months ago

A rocket might be better than a private jet overall. May depend on the payload and its purpose.

[-] MyTurtleSwimsUpsideDown@fedia.io 5 points 3 months ago

And it’s fuel.

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[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 23 points 3 months ago

As far as I can tell, this ruling is about the manufacturer of jets, not using them.

So, uhh, it's a green investment to buy one and let it sit unused. I guess I can't disagree with that.

Nowhere does this ruling say that flying is green.

[-] Fedizen@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago

Courts have a long, proud tradition of not seeing the forest through the trees.

[-] popekingjoe@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago

Or the trees themselves, for that matter.

[-] mattyroses@lemmy.today 3 points 3 months ago

"what's a tree?" - kid born in 5 years

[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

So, uhh, it's a green investment to buy one and let it sit unused. I guess I can't disagree with that.

I can. Do you think building the planes doesn't affect the environment? And the companies wouldn't build them if the demand wasn't there.

So maybe it's not as bad as burning tons of jet fuel with them, but just being willing to buy one is enough to damage the environment.

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[-] Jerb322@lemmy.world 21 points 3 months ago

How many of them, that decided this, have a private jet?

[-] Almacca@aussie.zone 10 points 3 months ago

Or are looking to buy one in the near future?

[-] Zorque@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Or be gifted one.

[-] cabillaud@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Maybe none, but they like little presents, from time to time.

[-] Exusia@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

As a treat

[-] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Give it a week or two before counting

[-] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago

Ha! Those stupid americans!

Wait... EU? But everyone from the EU says they're too smart for stuff like this to happen.

[-] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 11 points 3 months ago

Even EU politicians like money, and can be persuaded to change their mind if presented with enough of it. And rich people like their planes.

[-] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah, it's funny when they see that it can happen to them too. How is germany doing with that Afd, anyway?

[-] zarathustrad@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

I assume the Afd is just waiting for the Americans to come "liberate" them with an impressive UNO reverse of WWII.

"We're moving at a faster pace!"

Sing along every one! (Sounds of Mel Brooks dying)

[-] bitjunkie@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago

wHy DoN't ThE eUrOpEaN pEoPlE dO sOmEtHiNg!!!??one

[-] CADmonkey@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Legitimately lol'ed

[-] quick_snail@feddit.nl 9 points 3 months ago

Didn't the EU also pass laws making green washing illegal?

[-] uhmbah@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago

Green is a type of table with 6 or more legs

Rock is a type of pen

Solidarity is another word for quicksand

Poor is defined as a human citizen

If thee can change the definition of anything they want, then so can me

[-] officermike@lemmy.world 5 points 3 months ago

Ran across this relevant YouTube short yesterday:

https://youtube.com/shorts/Xmka1awC1b4?is=cZCx07wrTSWth3OV

[-] mattyroses@lemmy.today 5 points 3 months ago

Children of Kali time. Let's build some drones .

[-] uriel238@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 3 months ago

It sounds like the EU courts are captured.

It turns out immense consolidated economic and political power are not just a US problem, but a whole world problem.

Wait until the EU learns one trillionaire has enough wealth to control all governments, and wreck not just the US.

[-] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I never use the word "green" so the joke's on them. Emissions amounts from fossil combustion is what matters, not PR labels. You want lots of words instead of short cuts? Deal with it. I'll "emissions amounts from fossil combustion" your sorry ears all day long with pleasure. And I'll have the raw data and graphs in my back pocket.

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this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2026

566 points (99.5% liked)

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