New levies on luxury flights: France, Kenya, Spain, and five other nations launch a coalition to tax premium air travel and private jets, aiming to direct funds toward climate resilience and fair transitions.
Massive revenue potential: Global implementation of levies on premium tickets and private jet kerosene could generate over €78 billion annually, according to research commissioned by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force.
Framework set for COP30: The coalition plans to finalize the initiative’s structure and national legislation changes ahead of COP30 in Brazil, inviting other countries to join a harmonized global approach.
A coalition of eight countries — France, Spain, Kenya, Barbados, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Antigua & Barbuda — has launched a global initiative to tax premium air travel and private jet use as part of a broader push to finance climate resilience and sustainable development. The effort was unveiled at the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain.
The initiative is part of the Seville Platform for Action (SPA) and builds on the work of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, created under the Pact for Prosperity, People and Planet (4P) at COP28. The coalition aims to bring aviation — a rapidly growing source of emissions — into alignment with climate financing goals.
“We need those that benefited from globalisation to contribute more to financing,” said French President Emmanuel Macron. “I urge all possible countries to join this international framework because it is absolutely key.”
A Pragmatic and Scalable Approach
The aviation sector is responsible for more than 2.5% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions, yet kerosene used for international flights is generally exempt from taxes. In 2021, the G20 average carbon cost of kerosene was just €9/ton of CO₂, compared to €79 for diesel and €68 for gasoline.
Friederike Röder, director of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force Secretariat, noted: “Targeting aviation first is a very pragmatic choice… It makes sense economically speaking from a tax justice and climate perspective and can generate a significant sum.”
According to task force research, global levies on business and first-class tickets could raise up to €37 billion ($43.7 billion) annually, while taxes on private jet kerosene could bring in €41 billion ($48.5 billion).
The coalition intends to increase the number of countries applying such levies, especially on premium travel, and ensure greater progressivity and upward harmonization of existing taxes. Private jets will be taxed based on best practices, and all or part of the proceeds will be funneled into “resilient investments and fair transitions,” according to a French presidential statement.
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From Domestic Action to Global Impact
The coalition aims to improve domestic revenue mobilization for developing nations while supporting global solidarity, especially in areas such as climate adaptation, health emergencies, and poverty alleviation. It also opens the door for discussions around international taxation mechanisms, potentially in alignment with ongoing efforts at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and within the boundaries of the Chicago Convention.
Röder emphasized: “This would be a powerful signal because it would show that levies are used for global public goods.”
The group plans to finalize the policy framework before COP30 in Belém, Brazil, and implement legislative changes starting in 2026. A public consultation will help shape the criteria for how funds are spent, with both domestic and international applications anticipated.
A Model Already in Motion
The model has precedent. Since 2011, France and other countries have used solidarity levies on airline tickets to raise over $2 billion for Unitaid, an initiative tackling HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria in low-income countries.
With tightening public budgets and shifting global priorities, many governments are exploring “innovative and debt-free” financing tools. The Brazilian government is expected to highlight solidarity levies in the “Baku-to-Belém” roadmap, a plan aimed at mobilizing $1.3 trillion annually by 2035 for climate-related investments. This roadmap follows the modest $300 billion pledge made by developed nations at COP29.
“Solidarity levies need to be a critical piece of the puzzle,” Röder stressed, but cautioned that they “should not be used to allow advanced economies to escape their commitments and responsibilities.”
As this coalition works toward a robust global framework, the move to tax luxury air travel could mark a turning point in how climate action is financed—shifting the burden to those most able to contribute.
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