Frequent flyer PM unleashes 35.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide into skies

The globetrotting PM’s hectic travel schedule has left tonnes of carbon dioxide in his wake.

The frequent international travel of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has unleashed more than 35 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere.

Mr Albanese will this week jet to the United States to attend the APEC forum, marking his 18th international trip since taking office in May last year.

Analysis by The Advertiser shows that on return he will have travelled 385,586km – further than the 384,400km average distance between Earth and the moon.

According to Conservation International’s Flight Carbon Calculator, the travel would have released approximately 35.7 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

A precise figure is difficult to reach because fuel consumption depends on variables including the weight of the flight, flight time and cruising altitude.

Mr Albanese’s usual plane for international trips is a KC-30A, which the Air Force describes as a “heavily modified Airbus A330 airliner”.

His APEC trip to San Francisco will mark his third visit to the US – the second having taken place late last month for a state dinner.

He has also visited Indonesia and Japan three times, while he has twice visited Fiji, India and the UK.

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Kausea on One Foot Island after a Leaders’ Retreat during the Pacific Islands Forum at Aitutaki, Cook Islands. Picture: Mick Tsikas

The schedule has earned him the nickname “Airbus Albo” from some within the Opposition, but the government says the visits have achieved a range of outcomes in the national interest.

Those have included major economic announcements, as well as the return of Australians including Cheng Lei from China, Chau Van Kham from Vietnam and Sean Turnell from Myanmar.

Dr Emma Shortis, senior researcher with the Australia Institute’s International and Security Affairs program, said prime ministers back to Gough Whitlam have faced criticism about their overseas travel.

But she said it was incumbent on a prime minister to strike the right balance between international and domestic engagement.

“I think that the prime minister has been doing that quite successfully,” she said.