President Joe Biden will generate an estimated 2.2 million pounds of carbon during his trip to Europe to speak on the perils of clim...
President Joe Biden will generate an estimated 2.2 million pounds of carbon during his trip to Europe to speak on the perils of climate change.
The gigantic carbon footprint is comprised of 2.16 million pounds of carbon dioxide generated by the four large planes that comprise his airborne entourage on the trip to Italy and Scotland, where the president will speak at the COP26 summit on change in Glasgow, with the remainder emitted by Biden's cars.
His fleet is comprised up of the heavily modified Boeing 747 he travels on, known as Air Force One when the president is on board, an identical decoy and two huge C-17 Globemaster planes to carry his battalion of cars and helicopters.
Those jets each belch out an average of 54 pounds of carbon per mile flown. An average American would generate 0.365 pounds of carbon for if they flew a similar distance - just under 10,000 miles - on a regular scheduled flight.
Biden's Cadillac 'Beast,' a 20,000 pound armored limousine that gets as much as 8 mpg, was surrounded by dozens of slow moving cars as he pulled into the courtyard of the Vatican for his meeting with Pope Francis on Friday. It generates an estimated 8.75 pounds of carbon per mile driven - 10 times more than the average car, with two Beasts - the official vehicle and a decoy - forming part of his entourage.
The motorcade was 85-cars long, due to Italian COVID-19 rules, which only allow three non-cohabiting people - including the driver - per vehicle. As well as the Beast, it was comprised of gas-guzzling Chevrolet Suburban SUVs, and famously thirsty Alfa Romeo cars driven by Italian police. It would have generated around 73.5 pounds of carbon per mile driven.
The trip from Villa Taverna to Vatican City is 4.34 miles long, meaning the total amount of carbon generated by the Beast and its entourage was 373 pounds for that short visit to see Pope Francis where, ironically, the president and leader of the Catholic Church discussed climate change. Biden has been criticized for the largesse on social media, although the White House insists there is no other alternative to ensure the president is safe from any potential threat while traveling,
President Joe Biden used a massive 85-car motorcade to wind through the streets of Rome on Friday for his meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican
The motorcade was centered around The Beast, the president's armored limousine that gets as much as 8 mpg, but was also comprised of gas guzzling Chevy Suburban SUVs and Alfa Romeo police cars
Extra cars were needed as Italy's lockdown rules allow only three non-cohabiting people including the driver to be together in a vehicle
Biden arrived in Rome, accompanied with wife Jill Biden, on Thursday aboard Air Force One, with the jet generating an estimated 54,000 pounds of carbon during the 10,000-mile long weekend trip
President Biden and the first lady are snapped boarding Marine One at Joint Base Andrews on Thurdday
President Biden, seen exited The Beast, arrived at the Vatican on Friday
After Biden arrived in Rome on Thursday aboard Air Force One, his team arrived in Scotland on Friday, and separate military jets were used to haul in The Beast and the president's Marine One helicopter, along with scores of security personnel.
The Beast and Air Force One have long been criticized by some Americans of not being 'green enough,' with the later costing more than $200,000 an hour to operate, Business Insider reported.
The Air Force One jets, which went into service in 1990, are due to be replaced by two greener new replacements in 2024, but they'll still represent an extremely environmentally-unfriendly means of travel.
The Beast itself weighs around 20,000 pounds, sports a 5-litre diesel engine and gets about 8 mpg.
The Beast, pictured, above, runs on a 5-litre diesel engine and gets about 8 mpg
It costs more than $200,000 an hour to fly and operate Air Force One
The president made use of the Marine One helicopter on his trip to Europe
A Boeing C-17A Globemaster III based at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Orange County, New York, with number 60005 at Glasgow Airport this week. The aircraft was carrying a helicopter which will be called Marine One when used by the President
Many were quick to point out the hypocrisy as Biden, a vocal advocate for preventing climate change, touts such a gas-guzzling entourage of vehicles during a trip primarily scheduled for a climate chance conference.
'Climate change and worries while jetting setting around the globe. Carbon footprint, you say! Hypocrite,' wrote a Twitter user with the handle name Yellowstoneave.
Another Twitter user with name Snowwhite wrote, 'Joe Biden arrives at the Vatican City on Airforce One followed by gas guzzling Chevrolets & outriders. What climate change emergency?'
A Twitter user with the handle Hil..n also called Biden a hypocrite.
'Jump on ur helicopter then onto ur jumbo jet and lecture us about climate change.'
Many were quick to criticize the presidents use of a motorcade and Air Force One ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference
Biden has fled tanking approval ratings at home and partisan in-fighting over his $1.75trillon spending bill to travel to Rome, where he is set to meet with leaders from the G20 group of wealthy nations for a two-day summit.
It is the first face-to-face summit of the G20 since COVID struck, and Biden will be hoping to use it to repair his international reputation following his chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan that frustrated his allies and drew unfavorable comparisons with predecessor Donald Trump.
It also comes just two days ahead of the start of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow that will be hosted by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
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