We have already discussed why Prince Harry should opt for a private plane (opens in new tab) instead of continuing to jet-set on a private plane, but apparently that needs to be repeated. That's because Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left New York on a private plane just hours after appearing on stage at Global Citizen Live (opens in new tab), which promoted, in part, cutting U.S. emissions in half by 2030. Wow.

The fact that Harry was noted to have flown in and out of a polo tournament on a private jet (opens in new tab) just last month is no excuse for this behavior. That said, it can't be worse than when the couple reportedly chose a private jet (opens in new tab) and stayed on a gas-guzzling yacht when they attended the 2019 Google Climate Summit, At: Climate Summit. At. summit.

Look, rich people are rich. And given the threats and surveillance (opens in new tab) that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are subjected to, you can kind of understand why they would want their whereabouts to be harder to track, especially while traveling. Remember when Meghan was slammed by the tabloids for rocking the baby bump (opens in new tab) just a few years after Kate Middleton was lauded for doing the exact same thing?

But flying a private jet from New York to Southern California, a single flight that, according to the Blue Sky Model (opens in new tab), emits about 65 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, is certainly not the only way to protect themselves. Harry and Meghan insist on private flights because, first and foremost, they want to be seen as advocates for change. The purported reason for their move to the United States and away from royal duties in the first place is to spend more time on activities they care about. The Archewell website (opens in new tab) even has the slogan "Shared Purpose, Global Action." And climate action is one of the topics they have addressed (opens in new tab) over and over again (opens in new tab).

So when they call for global change, but refuse to reflect the same change in their own lives - which, come to think of it, is probably the easiest place for them to create change! - their message feels empty and hypocritical. With the birth of Harry, they have the biggest platform of any couple. That's a huge responsibility, and it's great that they are using it to try to make the world a better place. But there is no point in seeking change if we ruin that message by our own actions.

So, Harry and Meghan, let's stop using private jets. It would be much cooler if we did.