Elton John defends Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's private flight to France
Singer Elton John reveals he paid for a recent private flight for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after the couple is accused of climate change hypocrisy.
The boss of an eco firm paid by Sir Elton John to “offset” Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's flights has attacked other celebs for using private jets.
John Buckley, who founded Carbon Footprint Ltd, previously blasted Madonna and John Travolta for taking the high-emission trips.
He said: “It’s great for the celebrities to come out and support the cause but they then have to follow it up in their own lifestyles.
ELTON JOHN PAID FOR PRINCE HARRY, MEGHAN MARKLE'S PRIVATE FLIGHT TO FRANCE
Every time you catch a flight you add a significant amount of planet-warming gases to the atmosphere and that only adds to the problem of climate change — the best thing to do is just not fly.”
His blasts were revealed yesterday after Sir Elton claimed Prince Harry and Meghan's luxury flights to his French mansion were “carbon neutral.”
The veteran pop star said environmental damage had been canceled out because he had paid Buckley’s company to invest in environmental projects.
The eco firm boss was away on annual leave yesterday and has not commented on the jet setting royal row.
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Meghan Markle and Prince Harry came under fire for preaching about environmental consciousness while still taking a series of private flights. Stars including Ellen DeGenere and Elton John came to the defense of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. (Getty)
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But in April 2007 he attacked Madonna and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers for the pollution they caused jetting all over the world to stage gigs.
He said: "Madonna's Confessions tour produced 440 tonnes of CO2 in four months of last year — and that was just the flights between the countries, not taking into account the truckloads of equipment needed, the power to stage such a show and the transport of all the thousands of fans getting to the gigs.
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"The Red Hot Chili Peppers produced 220 tons of CO2 with their private jet alone over six months on their last world tour which was 42 dates. The average a British person produces is 10 tons a year.”
Buckley went on to stress there is no point in famous people promoting green issues while taking flights which wreck the planet.
He added: "It's great for the celebrities to come out and support the cause, but they then have to follow it up in their own lifestyles.
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“We should now keep a close eye on whether Madonna and the others make any changes to their own lifestyle.’
He later said of Madonna, “One thing we have found is that the difference between a private jet and taking a commercial flight could lead to a 50 percent reduction [in emissions], which is pretty worthwhile."
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Buckley also criticized "Saturday Night Fever" and "Pulp Fiction" star Travolta for asking fans “to do their bit for the environment” when he pilots five planes.
He said Travolta “failed to practice what he preaches."
Buckley’s company receives funding from companies, such as private jet firm Netjets to offset their carbon emissions.
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The 51-year-old businessman and his co-owner wife Wendy, 48, live in a smart four bedroom detached house in Basingstoke, Hants close to their offices.
Last year they posted social media images of a family ski holiday.
The firm last year had cash assets of over $1.82 million and is taking on staff to meet growing demand.
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A company spokesman said yesterday, “John is away on annual leave and I’m not in a position to comment on what he’s said. “I’m also not able to provide a calculation of what it would cost to offset a flight from London to Nice but a private jet flight would have been considerably more than first class.”
This article originally appeared in The Sun.
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