France and Spain have joined a pioneering coalition of nations—including Kenya, Barbados, Sierra Leone, Benin, Somalia, and Antigua and Barbuda—advocating the introduction of taxes on private jets to generate funds for climate action and sustainable development.
The initiative launched at a UN development summit in Seville and stems from the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, established during COP28 in 2023. Early projections suggest global aviation levies could raise as much as €78 billion annually—€41 billion from private jets and €37 billion from premium-class fares—with the potential to grow even larger with expanded contributions .
Aviation is responsible for more than 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and private jets emit disproportionately high CO₂ per passenger—up to 14 times more than commercial flights and 50 times more than trains.
By targeting these high-emitting travel modes, the coalition aims not only to hold luxury travelers accountable, but also to direct substantial revenue toward climate resilience in vulnerable regions.
Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, have lauded the proposal as a key step in “making polluters pay,” though they stress any revenues must directly support communities most affected by climate change .
Source: The Guardian
