Science: Carbon footprint from U2's world tour is big enough to fly the band to Mars and back

The Belfast Telegram reports that, according to an environmental company, the Irish rock band U2 will log 70,000 miles in their fuel-guzzling private jet over the course of a 100-date, eighteen-month 360° world tour. Additional aircraft will lug three stages, equipment, and about 200 crew and backstage staff around the globe.

Carbon Footprint Ltd, a British company that specializes in assessing environmental damage and maintains Carbonfootprint.com, has calculated that Bono and the boys will generate emissions of up to 65,000 tonnes of CO2, enough to fly the four band members to the planet Mars -- and back!

Helen Roberts, an environment consultant at Carbon Footprint Ltd, said: “The carbon footprint generated by U2’s 44 concerts this year is equal to carbon created by the four band members travelling the 34.125 million miles from Earth to Mars in a passenger plane. You also have to add the carbon emissions from the same number of concerts again next year. [...] To offset this year’s carbon emissions, U2 would need to plant 20,118 trees.”