How much CO2 did President Barack Obama emit on a trip to
Copenhagen to try to help Chicago's bid to host the Olympics?
President of the United States Barack Obama and his wife Michelle flew to Copenhagen, Denmark to help the city of Chicago in their bid to host the 2016 Olympics. It was announced today that the bid had failed as Chicago was the first city eliminated of the four vying for the games. Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, and Madrid were the other three cities with Rio de Janeiro finally being awarded the games.
The president has come under fire politically for taking the 4,050 mile trip when the nation is facing a number of pressing issues at home including a faltering economy and a heated debate about health care. Of interest to those seeking to protect our climate is the cost in terms of carbon emissions that the failed trip cost. Airplanes emit a great deal of carbon dioxide, the trace gas thought to be the major cause of global warming.
We have put together a very rough estimate of the cost in terms of carbon emissions of a trip by the President of the United States to Copenhagen.
Air Force One - President Barack Obama
- Distance from Washington D.C. to Copenhagen, Denmark, round trip: 8,100 miles
- Air Force One (Boeing 747 / VC-25A) cruising speed: 576mph
- Fuel used by Boeing 747 per hour: 3,378 gallons
- Flight time round trip: 14.06 hours one-way (assuming direct, straight-line flight)
- Fuel consumed during round trip flight to Denmark: 47,503 gallons or 296,894 lbs (6.25 lbs / gal)
- Carbon emissions of the flight: 1,031 tons of CO2 *
- Total warming effect of CO2 for flight: 2,785 tons of CO2 **
Those calculations are for one airplane however. The president always has a second, spare airplane that goes along as well therefore the total must be multipled by two.
- Total warming effect of CO2 for two Air Force One planes: 5,571 tons of CO2 *
First Lady Michelle Obama
The first lady flew to Copenhagen aboard an Air Force 737 (C40) in advance of the president. Judging from the video of her arrival, this was a 737-800, a very fuel efficient plane by comparison to Air Force One.
- Boeing 737-800 cruising speed: 514 mph
- Fuel used by Boeing 737 per hour: 786 gallons
- Flight time: 15.75 hours one-way (assuming direct, straight-line flight)
- Fuel consumed during round trip flight to Denmark: 12,386 gallons or 77,714 lbs
- Carbon emissions of the flight: 269 tons of CO2
- Total warming effect of CO2 for flight: 726 tons of CO2
Additional aircraft
According to the White House’s website, “Several cargo planes typically fly ahead of Air Force One to provide the President with services needed in remote locations.” These include carrying the vehicles for his motorcade, Secret Service personnel, an advance scout detail and more. The exact details of the planes and the number of them is of course top secret but let’s assume there were three planes, comparable to the one Michelle Obama flew.
- Total warming effect of CO2 for additional aircraft: 3 X 726 = 2,178 tons of CO2
The Final Tally
- 5,571 tons CO2 for President Obama
- 726 tons CO2 for first lady Michelle Obama
- 2,178 tons CO2 for support aircraft
Grand Total: 8,379 tons CO2 for trip to Copenhagen
By comparison, the average American household has a carbon footprint of 19.5 tons of CO2 per year.
Therefore, President Obama's two day trip deposited as much CO2 into the atmosphere as 430 American families do in an entire year.
Assumptions
* Emissions based on standard rate of 6.95 lbs CO2 / lb aviation fuel
** Total warming effect based on 2.7 multipler the IPCC uses due to the fact a plane flying at altitude does more damage to the atmosphere (radiative forcing) and emits ozone and water vapor.
Editor’s note: This is not a scientific analysis of the CO2 emissions of the president’s trip. It is merely being done as an exercise to determine approximations of the emissions. It uses accepted constants for the fuel emissions and the multiplier of total effect. A full analysis would require taking into account wind speeds, takeoff and landing fuel usage and much more. Further, this only takes into account the airplane emissions and not those of the array of ground vehicles that ferry and accompany the president.
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Comments
Stats like this indicate to me that even those who push the theory that carbon emmisions by humans are a major threat to the environment don't believe it themselves. While they continually ask average people to live "green" they have no intention of living up to the standards they set for everyone else. The whole issue of climate change or global warming, or whatever they're calling it this week is bogus. It's a tax scam designed to take even more of our money. Cap and Trade is a perfect example.
Have to agree with the first poster. In addition I would like to know what JUSTIES the expense $$$ in a economic crisis? Is it of vital importance that both president and first lady go, and if so why separately? HAS NO ONE HEARD of video conferencing?
It's quite possibly the most disgusting display of double-standards. As Darren commented, this is just a tax grab for something they don't believe themselves. Obama should be making judicious use of his carbon-farting ways so he can use it during his reelection bid. Like that will ever happen.
Actions speak louder than words Mr President. We all see how much you really care about carbon emissions...what a joke!!
Michelle looked beautiful and was as graceful as ever. I can't believe she wasn't able to sweep the voters off their feet. It must be a vast right wing conspiracy.
Please stop mocking the Commander in Chief of the United States. Why do you hate the United States so much ? Why are you trying to destroy the morale of our brave men and women inthe military ? Why are you helping Osama bin Laden?
Darren what do you think ? That Obama should move out of the White House and cease having Secret Service protection and just live like everybody else ? "Live like everybody else"??? what are you some kind of communist ?
Wow this green house gas stuff is really scary. Give me a break its a total hoax. By the way how's that fix in the ozone layer working out. I believe that I heard now that it is fixed the green house gases don't have anywhere to go. Way to go geniuses.
Like it or not folks, the job of diplomacy isn't something you can phone in from Crawford. The Chief Executive often has to be there in person.
This had nothing to do with 'diplomacy' at all. This was not the business of the nation. The president was simply paying back the Chicago politcal machine - plain and simple.
Are some trips necessary? Absolutely. This one was not and it was a waste of taxpayer dollars. The USOC should reimburse us for the trip - and buy a bunch of carbon offsets.
This use of fuel would not be a problem if he would not be preaching about Global warming and telling us (We the People)to stay at home, cut back on lighting and heat and cooling and pay more at the pump. Stay at home and use that new technology "Video Conferencing" we have problems here...and if he strengthened out economy it would not be a problem...but then again I can understand - he don't give a crap about us...once he;s out of ofice he will have to pay for his own trips...we'll however have to contimue paying for his SS protection...Yeah I said it SS...
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