Ursula von der Leyen is the President of European Commission. Her use of a private jet to fly for 20 minutes has been criticised as more countries are concerned about climate change.
Von der Leyen came under fire after it emerged that she used her private plane to travel roughly 50km between Vienna and Bratislava (Slovakia) in June. The German newspaper Bild reported that the flight lasted only 19 minutes.
Michael Jaeger, the secretary general of the Taxpayers’ Association of Europe (TAE), told the paper that von der Leyen’s brief flight was “an ecological sin.”
“It cost a lot of taxpayers’ money, a lot of time in going to and from airports, and above all – a lot of credibility,”Jaeger added.
This news was announced at the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (Scotland), where more than 100 countries pledged to reduce methane emissions.
Air travel produces more carbon dioxide per passenger than travelling by bus, train or car. Jana Schimke, a German MP, stated that von der Leyen should be commended for his efforts to make Europe carbon-neutral by 2050. “exemplify”Climate change. “Otherwise, you come off as untrustworthy.”
A spokesperson for the European Commission defended von der Leyen’s June trip by saying she had to travel through seven countries in two days. “Alternatives were examined, but logistically there was no other option.”
A spokesperson expressed concern that Covid-19 contained measures could affect flight and rail services.
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