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Luxury yachts. They're a status symbol for the rich and a burden on our climate. Those mayor's goals The sea is big. There will always be yachts and I don't think luxury yachts are such a big problem. Private motorized yachts burn huge amounts of fuel. We're the ones paying for their luxury consumption with our suffering in the destruction of our ecosystems. These climate activists are risking jail to make their voices heard. I can go to prison for protests that don't harm anyone. If there's any harm, it's financial harm done to multi-millionaires.
Today is a big day for retired business executive Alexander Reisch. Hello, Alex. Hello again. Fantastic to be on board. It's amazing. Let's go and check your boat. It's a beauty. After 2 years, he's finally taking possession of his first luxury yacht. 18 m long and built to his specifications. I like this part. The barbecue. Yeah, it's also electric barbecue. Okay. So, this uses the uh house batteries capacity, so you can use only solar panel to cook your dishes. Amazing.
The Austrian-born businessman's new yacht is powered by two electric motors. I've owned lots of smaller motorboats, but this is my first big yacht. I'm actually a bit of a petrolhead. Anyone with a boat knows that running generators at night to power the air conditioning makes a lot of noise, but not with this yacht. There is a diesel generator on board which can charge the batteries, but over short distances, it can run on solar. I got a contact from captain from Fernando Alonso. And he told me that they are moving out from Monaco Okay. to some island and
they stay there for 2 days coming back and they don't even have to turn the generator on for a 1 minute. So, when they go back, they just plug the shore power and they charge the boat once again. So, it's silent trip. So, it's ecological and also cost friendly, huh? Yes, exactly. The boat's solar panels are primarily used to power the onboard equipment. I don't actually think solar panels look very nice. That's why I chose this color. Gray and black go well together. The combination of luxury and eco features is just incredible. Alexander is collecting his yacht here in Gdansk, Poland. As global demand for luxury vessels grows, the boat-building industry is slowly embracing greener technologies,
including what are known as eco yachts. They're fitted with electric motors and are often made partly using recycled materials. But, the construction process is still extremely energy and resource intensive. Karol Staszek is a project manager at the Sunreef luxury yacht shipyard. He's in charge of what's called the eco fleet. The side of the yacht is covered with solar panels, which supply it with electricity during the day. Depending on how much energy the owner consumes, the yacht can be anchored for between 2 and 5 days without having to switch on generators or other power sources. But, almost all such yachts also have fossil fuel powered engines.
Alexander's new boat can hold 10,000 L of diesel in its tank. That amounts to a carbon footprint of 33 tons of CO2, as much as a diesel car driven around the world three and a half times. I've worked hard all my life and now I'm looking forward to spending a few lovely months with my family on this boat. After we get to Cannes, the plan is to see how much we can get around using solar power. It's going to be a combination of solar, generators, and using the system in a smart way. The next day, Alexander sets off from Gdansk bound for the Mediterranean.
He'll spend almost 3 months on the water together with his family and friends. The route will take them past Portugal, Gibraltar, the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, Corsica, and finally Cannes on the Côte d'Azur in France. One big question is, how often will the yacht need to refuel? Luna and Bilbo are the faces of the Spanish climate activist group Futuro Vegetal. They had plans to protest against luxury yachts on the island of Ibiza. But in Barcelona, they were stopped by police. We came down here with our three dogs, our rucksacks, and all our gear.
We were ready to go protest in Ibiza. We got as far as the police checkpoint. We wanted to check in, but when they saw our IDs, they knew who we were. In the summer of 2023, the group made international headlines with a protest action in the port of Ibiza. They targeted one of the world's most luxurious super yachts, 110 m long with an energy consumption equivalent to that of around 250 US households. The paint sprayed on the yacht was washable. We have to change the way we do things. It's a matter of life and death. The police have classified our group as a criminal organization, and all because we spray washable paint on super yachts
and buildings. It gives them an excuse to stop us whenever they like. Ultimately, it's just another tool of state repression to stop us exercising our right to protest. Bilbo is one of the group's founders. He's been environmentally conscious from a young age. One thing that spurred me into action is that my parents live in rural Cadiz, where water shortages are really being felt. When I was little, we had a small garden with a well that always had water in it. But it's been dry ever since I was 15, and now I'm nearly 33. They're especially critical of the super-rich and their lifestyles.
It's hard to believe that the richest 1% causes as much environmental pollution as the poorest two-thirds of humanity. We're the ones paying for their luxury consumption with our suffering in the destruction of our ecosystems. I'm not going to stand by and do nothing. That's just unacceptable given the climate and social crises we're facing. It's intolerable. This summer, they planned to protest on Ibiza again against what they say is the eco-vandalism of yacht owners. Are we the super yacht owners' worst nightmare?
I mean, I think we are, which makes me a bit proud, but also incredibly angry because it just shows that institutions and governments are doing absolutely nothing to set boundaries. By 2050, the EU wants an 80% reduction in the carbon emissions caused by shipping. Gradually, it's forcing cargo and cruise ships to switch to cleaner fuels. But most luxury yachts are exempt. Oxfam has published a study into 23 super yachts owned by billionaires. It shows that the average super yacht emits 5,600 tons of CO2 in a year.
More than three times the amount emitted by these billionaires' private jets. Put another way, a single super yacht emits the same amount as around 1,200 average people. This is the Spanish island of Ibiza, around 150 nautical miles south of Barcelona. Since 2000, the number of luxury yachts in the world has more than doubled. Many of these vessels are registered in the Cayman Islands, a tax haven. Ibiza's Bota Foch marina is filled with expensive vessels.
Franziska Schreiber has been a yacht charter agent here for 10 years. She's pleased that the authorities didn't allow the Futuro Vegetal activists to board the ferry from Barcelona. I heard something once about people spraying paint on yachts. I can't understand that. It's all well and good to stand up for the environment, but you don't have to damage other people's property or put your own life at risk by gluing yourself to the freeway or anything ridiculous like that. Sorry, but that's just going too far. All right. The yacht industry is also booming.
It has a global revenue of over $8 billion per year and rising. I'll do some shopping for you and I'll see you tomorrow at 12. Franziska's customers don't ask about carbon emissions when renting a yacht, but she says that doesn't mean the industry doesn't care about the environment. No matter what you do, you need to look after the environment and think in terms of sustainability. That's true in the yachting sector, too. For us, the most important issue is Posidonia.
Posidonia is a type of seagrass found in the Mediterranean. It stores massive amounts of CO2, performing a vital role in the fight against climate change. But, it's under threat. Here in Sant Antoni on Ibiza's northwest coast, marine ranger Kika Navarro is getting ready for his next patrol. His job is to protect the Posidonia meadows by catching yachts that anchor illegally. The hardest part of my job is when someone doesn't understand or doesn't want to understand why we do this work. The seagrass meadows are the reason why the water is so clean and why there are so many wonderful fish.
Kika makes sure that all yachts are anchored legally, at least 200 m from shore, and definitely not over the protected seagrass meadows. Spain's environment authorities operate a total of 19 boats in the Balearic Islands with up to five patrolling Ibiza. Let's stay in contact. Get in touch if anything happens. The Posidonia seagrass meadows around Ibiza are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They're sometimes referred to as the lungs of the Mediterranean.
They absorb almost twice as much CO2 as a forest the same size provided the plants aren't damaged. If a boat that's anchored illegally refuses to move, Kika calls the Guardia Civil. The result can be a fine ranging from 100 to 450,000 euros. I know for sure that this one is anchored illegally. Hello, are you the captain? Yes. Is the anchor okay? No, it's a red zone. You're much too close. The area's full of Posidonia. It's murky, but I saw a patch of sand.
Yes, but the anchor chain also has to be in the sand. Back there, it's all sand. You tell me where. Yes, I'll show you. You need to be better informed. Download the app and you'll see it straight away. The 64-year-old records every incident. It pains me because large vessels like that are causing a great deal of damage. Now we're going to see if there's any sea grass caught on the chain. A yacht of that size should know where it's allowed to anchor and where it isn't. The bigger the anchor, the greater the damage. I'm waiting for you to weigh anchor. Okay, tell me where.
Behind that sailboat. Since 2018, the authorities have been protecting 600 square kilometers of Posidonia meadows around the Balearic Islands. Since then, the number of boats anchoring illegally has fallen from nearly 20% to 5%. Even when a yacht is anchored correctly, Kika knows that there are broader environmental concerns. Many people don't care about the climate. Here's the captain. Hi. The CO2 emissions caused by yachts, that's a delicate topic. For example, right now we're at anchor.
The engines are off. Only the generator is running. So, fuel consumption is minimal. But even the generator of an anchored superyacht can emit as much CO2 per day as hundreds of cars. Each year, Kika and his colleagues monitor nearly 100,000 yachts. Are you okay, but in the limit? Thank you. Around 7,000 of them are found to be in prohibited areas. We go out every day and inform the captains we meet. You can see the difference it makes, and that makes me proud. Our work is really paying off.
The authorities here are setting an example for other Mediterranean countries, making it clear that environmental regulations apply to everyone, including luxury yachts. This is the Cannes Yachting Festival, a trade show for pleasure craft. The industry trends are plain to see. Bigger, more luxurious, even more expensive. Hybrid and electric models have also been gaining popularity in recent years. Like Alexander Reisch's yacht, the Double Happiness. After making the journey from Gdansk, it's being displayed at the boat show.
Some of Alexander's friends are also visiting. My captain Josh, very good friends from Dubai, Jean Louis. Hi Josh. Lovely to meet you. So, I'll show you a little bit that here you see the solar panels. Here a little small detail for at night is secret lights. Right? That's the panel solar, solar panels. And also here and you see how they're like integrated in the house. So, you And it's the same color, so it doesn't stick out, you know? You see the battery? Yeah. So, right now it says I have 1,000 hours, which is not true. When you move forward, you're probably going to It decreases quickly and you go at about, I would say, 120 kilowatts. Yeah. And that's when you deplete the
batteries in about 3-4 hours. So, you can sail at 8 knots for how long? 3 hours. 3-4 hours. It's been 3 months now. Having first-hand experience is brilliant. It allows you to see what works well and what doesn't. Karol Staszak from the shipyard in Gdansk has come to see how the yacht fared. Hi, how are you? Huh? Good. I'm good. After now a couple of months, huh? It's good to see you again. It's nice to be here. Yes. How was the trip? I can say fabulous. I filled up this boat the last time in Gibraltar. We had a full of fuel tank of 10,000 L and since then I have used this boat extensively every
day. We did more than 3,000 nautical miles and I still have 4,000 L. I hate waiting at a fuel station. You have to wait for your turn and then you have to wait hours to fill up. With this boat, it's brilliant because you can just cruise wherever you want and you don't have that problem. What's nice with the solar is that it runs the air conditioner, it runs the systems, it gives you the electricity, the lights, the machines, the Wi-Fi, the music. And you can you know, enjoy the day and know you have enough power to enjoy everything which is on this boat, which is fantastic. Uh if you are telling me if I am moving [clears throat] the boat with solar, I would say not yet. I need a lot more solar panels.
With enough solar panels, a motorized yacht can theoretically travel without fuel, but only at low speeds and over short distances. Some customers will always want diesel boats. But even they ask about the benefits of an electric system and the more environmentally friendly products that we offer. They also ask about things like fuel consumption. They're impressed when they find out that the consumption is much lower on the more environmentally friendly boats.
Around a third of the boats we sell are electric. But the overwhelming majority of luxury yachts still run on diesel only. This yacht owner is skeptical about alternative methods. I think we're still a long way away from electric. Long way away, yeah. It's the batteries. It's the bat- Yeah, long I think another good 10 years. It's always uh good to be green, but they need the technology. I need the other side.
The other side. Yeah, I got two engines. Take Some people have four, you know. Uh is that Emil? Hey. Alexander has an appointment. Come on board. Thank you. He's in the market for an electric dinghy. Thanks for coming. You will see I'm quite excited to see what you guys are offering in terms of electric tenders. Um Absolutely. Here, I brought you some renderings of what could be Okay. interesting. So, how big are these boats? How What's how long? we're looking at right now is about 6 and 1/2 m. Okay.
Emil Finna designs and sells electric boats that are used as tenders for larger yachts. In Europe in general, we're a bit behind the rest of the world. Uh we're seeing actually [clears throat] we're seeing more interest from Africa than Europe, which is very surprising. You can see the development and it's I'm really happy to see that it's happening. At the same time, more than 90% are not changing and you're seeing just larger motors, larger motors, more fuel, more pollution. What's the cost of these boats? Like I mean once let's say take one of these just so we can have an idea of my of the investment I need to put in. Uh as a
basic package starting at 80,000 euros. 80? Yeah, 80. 80,000 euros. That's pretty steep. E-boats are more expensive than diesel models. I mean, you have maybe a good option. Yeah. It's also good to see what your competition is doing. Of course. Of Yeah. In the end, Alexander decides against buying one of the electric boats. He doesn't think they're powerful enough. Electric boats may be expensive, but they're cheaper to run than a diesel yacht.
The annual running costs of a classic luxury yacht are around 10% of the purchase price. Depending on usage, the operating costs for electric boats are significantly lower. Back in Barcelona, activists Bilbo and Luna have chosen not to use their real names. Both of them gave up their careers to focus on climate activism. Bilbo used to be a lawyer, Luna, a doctor. Right now, they're staying with a friend who's also part of their group. They want their location to remain secret.
The pink dots are all private vessels. So that massive yacht belongs to a single person. We often get told that our way of protesting doesn't achieve anything. In fact, a lot of people say it could actually harm the climate movement because it generates a lot of animosity. Because it's vandalism, because it's something we're not used to. But the climate movement has spent more than 30 years protesting in a friendly way without success. According to Bilbo, the group has already been handed fines for its various actions amounting to around 200,000 euros, a figure they can't afford to pay.
It affects your mental health and it takes its toll on your self-image. To be honest, I'm paying a heavy price. I also have a 2-year-old daughter and it's possible I'll end up not being able to see her for a few years because I can go to prison for protests that don't harm anyone. If there's any harm, it's financial harm done to multi-millionaires. The group once had 25 members. Today, there are 12. The legal consequences are serious. They face up to 20 years in prison. But because Bilbo has no previous convictions, he expects a lenient sentence.
I think I could cope with a year and a half in prison if it would help bring about change by making people realize that institutions aren't there to protect us. Because ultimately, they put the economic interests of an elite group before the health and well-being of the whole population. Luna and Bilbo haven't been able to carry out their protest this time. To make ends meet, they do odd jobs in the agricultural sector. Tomorrow, they have to be back in the fields harvesting grapes. Until next time. See you soon. Very soon. But they won't give up their activism.
[clears throat] If I don't do it, who will? The Cannes Yachting Festival serves as a barometer for the global luxury yacht market. Sustainability is something that's being promoted, but features like hydrogen, hybrid, and electric propulsion systems are still niche products. Overall, the industry is far from climate-friendly. Alexander's niece is visiting with some friends. They're going to take a trip on his yacht.
It's all good, Josh. The captain has to navigate out of the harbor. There's a lot of weight moving around in the water with the very little bit of very little space. So, it's always a bit risky when you come into marinas that are so packed like this. Emil has been invited, too. Uh the good life on the boat. Not without a glass of rosé. Welcome on Double Happiness. Huh? Now with the wine, it's triple happiness. Luxury yachts come with big price tags, and even with eco yachts, their environmental impact is considerable. Yacht owners have some of the largest carbon footprints.
You can campaign against things. You can say there shouldn't be yachts at all, but the sea is big. There will always be yachts, and I don't think luxury yachts are such a big problem. Alexander's 25-year-old niece, Tessa, has spent time on yachts before. You have the freedom to go anywhere, whenever you want, with the people closest to you. I love the way the boat moves through the waves. I really love it. And especially on this yacht because you can't hear the engine at all.
It feels like we're flying. Really it's like we're flying. Like we're alone in the world. As well as the feeling of freedom, does Alexander also feel that an eco yacht was a better choice for the environment? It wasn't the main reason. There were other factors that were more important, but I am proud that I'm polluting the environment less. Mostly it just makes sense. You spend less money, you have a more enjoyable journey and experience, and on top of that, you help protect the environment a bit more. So, all in all, it just makes sense. But even with solar panels, luxury
yachts are still far from climate friendly. Living the high life on the high seas comes at a high cost for our environment.
