Nike Air

Athletic-apparel giant's top executives preach climate change as they rev up their corporate jets

“Hypocrisy is a detriment to progress.” – Larry Flynt

The least of Nike’s problems is a fresh report by ProPublica detailing its increasing use of carbon-spewing corporate jets while its top executives promise action on climate change.

Nike stock is down more than 27% this year following the steep declines in sales it reported in June. And shares are down more than 55% from the all-time high they hit in November 2021.

After a string of strategic blunders, perhaps the only things still flying high at Nike are its two Gulfstream G650ER jets, often taking top executives to popular golf and vacation destinations and far-flung homes, ProPublica reports.

“We are more committed than ever to help save the planet,” CEO John Donahoe said in a 2022 video.

“It’s about leading with actions, not words,” said Mark Parker, executive chairman in Nike’s 2019 corporate responsibility report.

Nike Air takes its CEO anywhere.

Meanwhile, Nike jets emitted about 20% more carbon dioxide than they did in 2015, according to a report from ProPublica on Tuesday.

Employees are losing their jobs, shareholders are choking back losses, and Nike’s top executives are lip-servicing climate change while they increasingly fire up private jets that cough out far more carbon per passenger than commercial airliners.

Nike has positioned itself as a sustainability leader with its pledge to voluntarily slash carbon emissions as prescribed by the Paris Agreement.

Maybe its executives should do what many private business owners do when sales are down: Stop taking so many pleasure trips and fly coach.