June 30, 2025

Dear Ministers and Delegates,

Your governments will gather in Sevilla for a pivotal UN summit on financing our collective climate future. At this critical meeting, you have the chance to support a practical, fair, and urgent solution to help close the global climate finance gap: solidarity levies on luxury air travel.

We face a moment of intensifying climate injustice. While everyday people are paying taxes at the fuel pump and are bearing the brunt of climate impacts, the world’s wealthiest continue to fly untaxed — in business class, first class, and private jets. A private jet emits 5 to 14 times more carbon per passenger than commercial flights, yet aviation fuel (kerosene) remains largely exempt from taxation. That’s not just an oversight — it’s a structural injustice.

But you have the opportunity to help fix it.

We, the undersigned organizations, call on you to publicly support and help implement international solidarity levies on luxury aviation — including:

• A purchase tax on business and first-class air tickets, which reflects the higher emissions per passenger due to increased weight and space, and ensures more polluting seat classes are taxed at a higher rate
• A kerosene levy private jets, targeting the most carbon-intensive aviation activity and correcting the current lack of taxation on aviation fuel
• A commitment to channel the revenues toward climate adaptation, mitigation, and loss & damage — particularly in the most climate-vulnerable countries

These measures are effective, fair, and practical. Over 20 countries have implemented some form of aviation levy. France stands out for directing part of the revenue to global health programs like UNITAID, which works to end epidemics such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and hepatitis C. Other countries, including Brazil, Norway, and Chile, have introduced levies with varying designs and objectives. Now it’s time to take the next step: apply this proven tool to the greatest crisis of our time — climate change.

If enacted, these levies could raise well over $100 billion annually — including an estimated €41 billion from private jets and €62 billion from a ticket levy, according to a study commissioned by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force. These measures wouldn’t burden everyday travellers or the Global South. In fact, they are among the most equitable proposals available: those most responsible for emissions contribute the most to fixing the damage.

The numbers tell the story of global inequality: 80% of people on Earth have never taken a flight, yet it is the world’s poorest who suffer most from the pollution caused by a handful of wealthy flyers and private jet owners. This raises serious questions of equity and fairness — and underscores the urgent need for corrective action.. Taxing luxury aviation and using the revenue for climate action is a clear and powerful way to shift the burden back where it belongs.

Recently, leaders from Brazil and France have already voiced support for international solidarity levies. But to move forward, we need political courage from more governments — especially Spain and EU institutions, as hosts of the FFD4 summit. With the right leadership in Sevilla, this can become a breakthrough moment ahead of COP30 in Brazil.

We urge you to stand on the right side of history — and send a clear signal: the era of untaxed pollution is over. The wealthiest must pay their fair share.

Sincerely,

Aviation Environment Federation
Carbon Market Watch
Centre for Financial Accountability
Ekō
European Environmental Bureau
International Solidarity for Academic Freedom in India (InSAF)
Mothers Rise Up
Opportunity Green
Shift modal ASBL
The Artivist Network
Transport & Environment