A group of eight countries – France, Spain, Kenya, Barbados, Benin, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Antigua and Barbuda – has joined forces in what they are calling a “coalition of the willing”. Their shared goal: to tax premium air tickets and private jets in order to generate new financial resources for climate action and sustainable development, particularly in those countries most severely affected by the climate crisis.

The countries want to introduce these levies on both international and domestic flights, as well as on the kerosene used by private jets. According to research commissioned by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, if applied worldwide, the measure could raise up to €78 billion annually: €37 billion from business and first-class tickets and €41 billion from private jet fuel.

Presentation at COP30 and national legislation in preparation

The details of exactly how the tax mechanism will work are expected to be unveiled at the UN climate summit COP30 in November 2025, to be held in Belém, Brazil. In the run-up, the countries are working on proposals for their own national legislation, which could take effect in 2026.

The measure was launched during the fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) in Seville, Spain. At this summit, representatives of governments, financial institutions and civil society are discussing how financing for global challenges – such as climate change, hunger and healthcare – can be scaled up at a time of declining development aid.

Macron: “Those who profit from globalisation must contribute”

French president Emmanuel Macron stressed in Seville the urgency of creating a fairer financing system:

“We need those who have profited from globalisation to contribute more to financing. I call on all willing countries to join this international framework, because this is absolutely crucial.”

France, together with Kenya, is among the leading champions of the initiative. Macron’s call reflects the coalition’s broader idea: that those who pollute the most must also contribute the most towards the solution.

Aviation sector under scrutiny: high consumption, low taxation

The aviation sector is responsible for more than 2.5% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions and is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases. Yet the sector remains largely untaxed, particularly when it comes to international flights or private jets.

According to Friederike Röder, director of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force secretariat, the focus on aviation is a “very pragmatic” first step:

“It is something that can be introduced fairly quickly, it makes economic sense in terms of fiscal justice and climate, and it can generate a substantial sum.”

The Task Force was established in 2023 to explore ways in which sectors that contribute disproportionately to emissions – such as aviation, fossil fuels and financial transactions – could make a greater contribution to climate finance.

Example of earlier solidarity levies: Unitaid

The idea of using ticket levies to fund global goals is not new. Since 2011, France has had a tax on airline tickets, which has raised more than $2 billion for Unitaid, an organisation focused on treating HIV, tuberculosis and malaria in low-income countries.

The new climate levy builds on this model. The French presidency announced on Monday that all or part of the proceeds would be earmarked for resilient investment and a just transition.

Destination of revenues: domestic and international

Exactly how the revenues will be allocated is still subject to public consultation. Röder expects countries such as France to spend part of the proceeds domestically – on climate adaptation within their own borders – and another part on international projects in vulnerable countries.

“This would be a powerful signal, as it would show that levies are being used for global public goods,” said Röder.

A new approach to climate finance

The coalition ties into a broader and growing interest in “innovative financing mechanisms”, such as solidarity levies. Governments are looking for new sources of finance at a time when state budgets are under pressure from, among other things, defence spending.

According to Röder, these taxes are particularly well suited to providing additional and debt-free finance for climate adaptation and compensation for loss and damage in affected countries.

International ambitions: part of a bigger roadmap

The initiative may be included in the “Baku-to-Belém” roadmap – a plan to be presented in November that aims to mobilise $1.3 trillion per year in climate finance by 2035. By comparison, at COP29 last year developed countries pledged only $300 billion annually.

Röder emphasised that solidarity levies are essential to this roadmap:

“Solidarity levies must be a crucial piece of the puzzle,” she said, “but they must not be used to allow developed economies to shirk their obligations and responsibilities.”

Conclusion: a moral signal in the fight against climate change

With their proposal, the eight countries want to fundamentally change the debate on climate finance. Not by banning air travel, but by ensuring that luxury and polluting aviation is fairly priced.

In a world where the wealthiest travellers pollute disproportionately and the poorest countries bear the heaviest consequences, the coalition poses a simple but powerful question: who should pay the price for the climate crisis?

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