Greenwashing, hot air and 300,000 tons of CO2 are byproducts of the Paris climate talks

That pesky carbon footprint. No matter how they spin it, the 190 global leaders now gathered in Paris to talk about climate change can’t escape the carbon aftermath of their personal aircraft and ground transportation. The United Nation’s’ own Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change itself says that such transport accounts for 23 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, and the percentage is expected to increase.

But the big shots have to get there some how, and most fly in — though Germany’s environmental minister Barbara Hendricks took a train to Paris, though the journey was still disrupted by “anarchists” protesting her mode of travel.

“Climate change alarmists stubbornly refuse to live as if they believe a single word of what they’re saying. The size of their carbon footprints is staggering,” observes John Hayward, a Brietbart columnist.

“These conferences are unnecessary. It’s 2015. We have incredibly advanced telecommuting systems. Climate confabs are an excuse for politicians to soak their taxpayers for luxury junkets to exotic vacation destinations, where they stay in five-star hotels and dine on the finest gourmet foods.”

Indeed, President Obama flew to Paris aboard Air Force One, which burns five gallons of jet fuel for every mile it covers, Mr. Hayward says in his analysis.  Since aviation fuel releases 21 pounds of carbon into the atmosphere for every gallon burned, he figures the president’s 7,656-mile round-trip to Paris will consume 38,280 gallons of fuel, and release 803,880 pounds of carbon by the time Mr. Obama return on Tuesday evening.

And the grand total here? Wired.com reporter Nick Stockton estimates that the thousands who travel to the conference are ultimately responsible for the emission of 300,000 tons of CO2 — based on typical industry standards, and estimate for average travel distances of the participants.

In the meantime, the COP21 meeting on climate change plods forward, but not without protest.

“Brandalism” is at work in Paris. Some 60 artist activists have plastered the town with 600 parody posters that claim the big event is guilty of “greenwashing”  — accepting auto and airline sponsors who are guilty of polluting the air, but eager to market their virtue before the green-minded crowd.

“Drive cleaner — or just pretending to?” asks one big graphic targeting Volkswagen.

“The multinationals responsible for climate change can keep greenwashing their destructive business models, but the communities directly impacted by them are silenced. It’s now more important than ever to call out their lies and speak truth to power,” the British-based art collective advised in a public statement.