Chris Packham wants Taylor Swift to sell off her private jets
The Springwatch presenter challenged Taylor Swift to bin her private jets and announce at his nature rally this summer.
Chris Packham has asked pop sensation Taylor Swift to stop using her private jets. The TV presenter and environmental activist even suggested that Swift should consider selling some of her personal planes in order to minimise her impact on the climate crisis.
The Springwatch host explained to the Mirror that Swift's recent legal battle with Jack Sweeney, who uses social media accounts to track the private planes of famous people, was a missed opportunity. Instead, Packham argued, she should simply use these planes less often.
"We know that private jets are the single greatest contributor when it comes to jet aviation fuel and the least efficient because they're carrying one person," said the 63-year-old.
He added: "So [Sweeney] called her out and she threatened to sue him. And I just thought: 'You really missed the trick there, Taylor'. What you should have said is: 'You're right, times have moved on. I've got to change my practice. I'm going to sell my private jets'."
Packham said this decision would have been a "powerful thing" and a strong environmental statement by Swift, utilising her enormous audience to help the planet.
Swift is currently in the midst of the European leg of her Eras Tour, playing shows in France, Sweden, and Portugal during May 2024. Throughout June, she will perform in Spain, the UK, and Ireland.
Presumably, the star will be clocking up plenty of air miles in that time, but Packham thinks she should look into alternatives. He invited her to announce that she was giving up private jets at his nature rally in London in June, which coincides with her gig at Wembley.
"I mean, her audience is primarily a young audience, isn't it?" said Packham. "I mean, you can't say she's responsible for climate breakdown. But she's an icon. And as a consequence of that, she should be leading."
Packham has been a devoted environmental campaigner for years, criticising I'm a Celebrity for its use of animals and feuding with Jeremy Clarkson. Earlier this year, he explained on Loose Women that he faces "constant intimidation" over his views.
"There are a lot of people who have vested interests and they want to keep bad business as usual and they see people like myself as an adversary," said Packham.
"Unfortunately, a tiny minority of those people tend to lash out. I think the reason is that I'm asking them to change their minds more quickly than they want to and the reason I'm asking that is there is a real urgency."
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