France, Spain, and others back aviation tax on premium flyers, private jets to fund climate action

France, Spain, Kenya, and several other nations announced on Monday a joint pledge to tax premium-class airline passengers and private jet users, in a move aimed at raising billions of dollars for climate action and sustainable development.

The agreement, unveiled at the opening of a major United Nations development summit in Seville, marks one of the first commitments under the newly launched "Sevilla Platform for Action" — a framework intended to revamp global financing mechanisms for developing countries.

In addition to France and Spain, the initiative is backed by Barbados, Kenya, Benin, Somalia, Sierra Leone, and Antigua and Barbuda. The plan will receive technical support from the European Commission and the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, which has been advocating for innovative financing tools to address climate and development challenges.

“The aim is to help improve green taxation and foster international solidarity by promoting more progressive and harmonised tax systems,” said the office of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

As traditional development aid from wealthier nations declines, especially amid rising fiscal pressures, participating countries say targeted taxes on high-emission sectors offer a fair and effective way to mobilize resources. The aviation sector, long criticized for its environmental impact and relative tax immunity, is seen as a high-potential revenue source.

Kenyan President William Ruto welcomed the initiative but emphasized that global action must follow political commitment. “Many of the ideas are not new, as different countries have had such levies,” Ruto said. “What we need here is political will. We cannot keep talking about change without implementing it. The world is watching and expecting real outcomes.”

Environmental advocates also praised the move. “This is an important step towards ensuring that the binge users of this undertaxed sector are made to pay their fair share,” said Rebecca Newsom of Greenpeace. She added that the “obvious” next step would be to impose similar accountability on the oil and gas industry.

The aviation levy is part of a broader push by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force to explore taxes on other high-emission sectors such as maritime shipping, fossil fuel extraction, cryptocurrency trading, and ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

The proposal is still in its early stages, with details on implementation, collection, and distribution yet to be finalized. But supporters say it could generate significant revenue while signaling a shift toward climate justice and equitable development financing.

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