I would not call myself a ’Swiftie’ by any means. I’m a middle-aged man who grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and listened to rock and blues music. Hardly the right demographic for her fan base.
I will put my hand up, though, and say that I admire several of the songs she has written. Blank Space, Love Story and We are Never Ever Getting Back Together are great listens. (although Bad Blood can go and take a long walk off a short pier).
But what I do admire about her is the fact that she is very influential and uses her platform for good. The footage of her advocating against Donald Trump in her Americana documentary and encouraging people to vote was, quite possibly, a factor in the change of government in the US in 2020.
But that influence can also be used in more nefarious ways - not all of which are deliberate or obvious.
It is well known that Taylor Swift has the highest private jet use of any celebrity1. Her carbon footprint from private jet use dwarfs that of any other US citizen.
In an age of global climate change, that’s problematic.
But what’s more problematic is the solution.
When we talk about carbon footprints from flying I am speaking from a position of knowledge. Back in my youth I had a job which involved copious amounts of air travel. I was doing between 2 and 3 flights per week, every week for the best part of 10 years. I have flown into Frankfurt Airport over 400 times2. For several years after that I averaged 8 transatlantic return trips annually.
I am also a qualified private pilot (a license I got by flying to Florida for three weeks and doing three flights a day in a single-engined Piper Arrow)
My carbon footprint from flying is huge and can never be offset.
But I have not taken a flight since 2007 and have no intention of doing so in the near future.
I’m not saying this in a virtue signalling way. I’m doing this to say that I understand the situation and I empathise.
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