Davos claims it will be carbon neutral this year – but do the numbers stack up?

Campaigners warn that the net-zero claim involves some ‘dodgy accounting’, writes Ben Chapman

The World Economic Forum offset almost 35,000 tons of CO2 last year (AFP/Getty)

The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos has not garnered a reputation for being an environmentally friendly get-together, but with climate change shooting to the top of the agenda, this year’s event has chosen sustainability as its main theme.

It also promises to walk the walk by being carbon neutral. With hundreds of private jets carrying some of the planet’s most powerful people to the Alpine resort next week, however, is this a realistic aim?

The WEF says it has done everything it can to reduce its carbon footprint: its fleet of vehicles for ferrying guests around is 90 per cent electric, and there will be more local food and meat-free options. Even the venue itself has been reconfigured to use less carpet.