WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On the day of the conference, Obama was criticized for flying in an Air Force plane that emitted 9,180 gallons (34,750 liters) of fuel, five times the carbon dioxide of an average US resident over a whole year.
“President Obama’s April 22, 2015, Earth Day trip to give a global warming speech in the Florida Everglades cost taxpayers $866,615.40 in flight expenses alone.”
Judicial Watch added that days before his scheduled speech, Obama said he was going to the Everglades to “talk about the way that climate change threatens our economy.”
The advocacy group also noted that the trip was billed as a chance for the President to address climate change, but was used to attack potential 2016 Republican presidential candidates.
“The irony of using Air Force One for an unnecessary jaunt to discuss global warming aside, these documents show that taxpayers are being gouged for President Obama’s abuse of the perks of office,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said. “Taxpayers should not be forced to foot the bill for his continual savaging of political opponents.”
In November 2014, the United States pledged to curb its greenhouse gas emissions 26-28 percent by 2025.
In order to reach the goal, Obama ordered the federal government in March 2015 to cut emissions 40 percent in ten years.
