A new aviation solidarity coalition on premium flyers (first- and business- class tickets, and private jets) has been launched today at FFD4 by France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua & Barbuda. It will be supported by the European Commission, and the Groupe de travail sur le prélèvement de solidarité mondiale as part of the Pact for Prosperity, People and the Planet (4P). The coalition will work towards COP30 on a better contribution of the aviation sector to fair transitions and resilience, with a special focus on premium flyers.
Speaking at FFD4:
President of France Emmanuel Macron said:
“Where we are not delivering is in terms of financing. The situation of many countries is worse in terms of debt sustainability.
“In order to go further, we have to mobilise global solidarity levies. This is the work of Laurence and the whole team.
“We have made progress on maritime and now on aviation there is a huge step forward. France started it 20 years ago. Having Spain (in our premium flyers coalition) is very good news, and we need more and more countries.
“We need those that benefited from globalisation to contribute more to financing.
“I urge all possible countries to join this international framework because it is absolutely key.”
President of Kenya William Ruto said:
“The Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, co-chaired by Kenya, France and Barbados, has explored innovative sources of finance, such as on aviation… Many of the ideas are not new, as different countries have had such levies.
“What we need here is political will. We cannot keep talking about change without implementing it. The world is watching and expecting real outcomes.”
Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez said:
“Happy to announce that Spain will join the coalition to work towards a better contribution of premium flyers… multilateralism is alive.”
Laurence Tubiana, co-lead of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force Secretariat, said:
“New levies on premium flyers can raise vital funds for climate and development.
“In the current context, everybody is pessimistic, saying we cannot do anything. Today’s announcement is proof that we can make progress.”
Commissioner of the European Commission for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra said:
“We are pleased to join the call by France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain and other countries to work towards COP30 on a better contribution of the aviation sector to fair transitions and resilience, with a special focus on premium flyers.
“I invite all partners to join and closely follow the important work of the Taskforce, especially as we approach COP30.
Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships of France, Thani Mohamed-Soilihi, said:
“In our proposal, member states will commit to introduce a ticket levy on premium flyers if they don’t have one; make (their ticket levy) more progressive for upward harmonisation; and for all countries to introduce a significant tax on private jets. Together, we have to make a difference.”
The coalition commits to work towards COP30 on a better contribution of the aviation sector to fair transitions and resilience, with a special focus on premium flyers, in view of investing all or parts of the proceeds into resilient investments and fair transitions.
The coalition aims to improve domestic revenue mobilization of developing countries and support international solidarity (in particular with regards to climate change mitigation and adaptation, pandemics and other development challenges). It will work to increase the number of countries applying flight ticket levies, including on premium travels, and to tax private jets based on best practices, while ensuring upward harmonization and greater progressivity in countries which already have such levies in place. It will also work on principles for the use of the proceeds. In parallel, these countries may explore options for a generalized taxation at international level, building on current discussions at ICAO on the decarbonization of the aviation sector.
Just 1% of the world’s population accounts for more than half of the CO2 emissions from commercial aviation. Meanwhile, premium travel has seen a sharp rise in recent years with a 46% increase in emissions from private aviation between 2019-2023. The aviation sector accounts for over 2.5% of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and remains one of the sectors with the fastest-growing greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, kerosene, particularly for international flights, remains generally exempt from all duties and taxes. In the G20, the average price of kerosene in 2021 was 9 euros/ton of CO₂ compared with 79 euros for diesel and 68 euros for gasoline.
New research by Oxfam and Greenpeace also finds 3 out of 4 people in 13 countries believe wealthier air travellers should pay more tax due to their outsized impact to climate change, while research by CE Delft shows a global levy on premium flyers could raise €78bn per year. This shows the potential for levies on premium flyers.
FINS
Contact
Duncan Moss, Head of Communication, Global Solidarity Levies Task Force Secretariat
À propos de la task force sur les contributions de solidarité mondiale
The Global Solidarity Levies Task Force is co-led by France, Kenya and Barbados. It is responsible for designing proposals for solidarity levies on undertaxed sectors that contribute disproportionately more to global carbon emissions, are undertaxed and/or benefit extensively from globalization. These solidarity levies can help generate finance for climate and development action. The task force was formed following the Nairobi Climate Declaration, Pact for Prosperity, People and Planet, and Bridgetown Initiative. By COP30, it aims to enable governments to bring together a coalition of the willing ready to implement one or more of these levies.
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