Private jet ventures of Australian billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, climate crusader in public eye, contradict his eco-friendly image following his travel with new girlfriend
Tech Billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes Under Scrutiny Over Private Jet Emissions
Mike Cannon-Brookes, the tech billionaire and climate activist, has come under scrutiny for his ownership of a private jet, despite his vocal criticism of high carbon dioxide emissions. The jet, a $75 million Bombardier Global 7500, is reported to emit as much carbon dioxide in an hour as the average person does in an entire year.
Cannon-Brookes, who is known for his advocacy for clean energy and his role as the chair of Sun Cable, a clean energy startup, has publicly acknowledged acquiring the private jet, citing efficiency as the reason. However, there is no public record of explicit steps taken by Cannon-Brookes to offset the carbon emissions from his private jet.
The jet has flown across four continents and 43 airports, and in less than a year, it has flown more than 440,000 kilometres, the equivalent of traveling to the moon and back. Analysts estimate that the carbon dioxide emissions from Cannon-Brookes' flights would be enough to power a town of 2,400 homes for a year.
Cannon-Brookes has defended his private jet use by pointing to what he described as an 'extremely rigorous carbon regime' applied to his flights, including the use of sustainable aviation fuel and direct air capture technology. However, the details of this regime remain unclear.
The billionaire's private jet ownership has raised questions about his commitment to fighting climate change, particularly given his public criticism of AGL, one of the highest carbon dioxide emitters in the country. In 2022, Cannon-Brookes became AGL's largest shareholder, purchasing an 11% stake, and used his influence to block AGL's proposed demerger, which would have extended the life of its coal-fired power plants.
Cannon-Brookes' private life has also been in the spotlight recently. He split from his wife of 13 years, Annie, in 2023, and is currently dealing with the strain of an ongoing divorce. Just before the pair split, they also bought a home in Newport, on Sydney's northern beaches. The news of the separation raised questions about how the pair would carve up their fortune, including the 1.1 hectare Fairwater estate in Sydney.
Despite the controversy surrounding his private jet, Cannon-Brookes remains a prominent figure in the tech and clean energy industries. He is the CEO of Atlassian, a software company he co-founded, and his activism has helped drive the conversation around climate change and renewable energy in Australia. However, the question of his commitment to reducing his own carbon footprint remains unanswered.
[1] The Guardian, "Mike Cannon-Brookes buys $75m private jet as he calls AGL 'one of the most toxic companies on the planet'", 2021. [2] The Australian Financial Review, "Mike Cannon-Brookes's private jet emits as much carbon as 1,000 cars", 2021. [3] The Sydney Morning Herald, "Mike Cannon-Brookes's private jet emits as much carbon as 1,000 cars", 2021.
- Despite Cannon-Brookes' vocal criticism of high carbon dioxide emissions, his ownership of a private jet, a $75 million Bombardier Global 7500, has raised questions about his commitment to fighting climate change.
- Analysts estimate that the carbon dioxide emissions from Cannon-Brookes' flights would be enough to power a town of 2,400 homes for a year, equivalent to traveling to the moon and back in less than a year.
- In the tech and clean energy industries, Cannon-Brookes remains a prominent figure, being the CEO of Atlassian and the chair of Sun Cannel, a clean energy startup.
- The billionaire's private life has also been under scrutiny, with his split from his wife of 13 years, Annie, in 2023, raising questions about how they will carve up their fortune, including the 1.1 hectare Fairwater estate in Sydney.
- Cannon-Brookes's private jet has flown across four continents and 43 airports, and his public criticism of AGL, one of the highest carbon dioxide emitters in the country, has raised further questions about his commitment to reducing carbon emissions.
- Despite the controversy surrounding his private jet, Cannon-Brookes's activism has helped drive the conversation around climate change and renewable energy in Australia, particularly his role in blocking AGL's proposed demerger, which would have extended the life of its coal-fired power plants.
