Brazil Spain and France for luxury air travel levy
At the World Climate Conference in Brazil, France and Spain, together with seven other countries, are campaigning for an extra levy on business class airline tickets and private jet travel. "Those who pollute more should also contribute more," said the Spanish ambassador to Brazil, María del Mar Fernández-Palacios, in Belém. "A levy on premium passengers can generate billions for climate resilience, adaptation and sustainable development." In the fight against the climate crisis, states need predictable revenues that do not place an excessive burden on ordinary citizens.
16.11.2025, 14:56
16.11.2025, 15:44
SDA
French climate ambassador Benoît Faraco said that solidarity taxes such as those on luxury flights were in line with the spirit of the Paris Climate Agreement to curb global warming. He called on all countries at the climate conference to join in.
A spokesperson for the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, led by Carsten Schneider (SPD), told "Der Spiegel" about the idea: "Anyone traveling first class or on a private plane will have no problem paying a levy." However, it was only this week that the black-red coalition government decided to reduce the ticket tax on air travel from July 1, 2026 - a move that drew harsh criticism from climate activists.
"Taxation of billionaires and private jets necessary"
Flying is by far the most climate-damaging way to travel. According to the "Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition", only one percent of the world's population is responsible for more than half of the climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions from commercial aviation. At the same time, "premium" air travel has increased significantly: Emissions from private aviation had risen by 46 percent between 2019 and 2023.
Jennifer Morgan, former Secretary of State for Climate Action and former German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, also campaigned for a solidarity tax on air travel. "People see the increasing inequality. And they know that taxing billionaires and private jets is fair and necessary."
