The aviation sector accounts for over 2.5% of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and remains one of the sectors with the fastest-growing greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, kerosene, particularly for international flights, remains generally exempt from all duties and taxes. In the G20, the average price of kerosene in 2021 was 9 euros/ton of CO₂ compared with 79 euros for diesel and 68 euros for gasoline. In the meantime, air travel remains strongly correlated with income level, with a sharp increase in the premium travel segment since the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in 2023, world leaders stressed the urgent need to find new financial resources to support vulnerable economies in lifting their population out of poverty while protecting the planet, and to ensure that each nation defines its own strategy in this regard. The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (Seville, Spain), where the international community is reaffirming its commitment to put in place a renewed global financing framework for sustainable development, presents a unique opportunity to launch transformative initiatives.
Based on the expertise gathered by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, launched at COP28 as part of the Pact for Prosperity, People and Planet (4P), France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua & Barbuda announce the launch of a coalition, under the Seville Platform for Action (SPA), to work towards COP30 on a better contribution of the aviation sector to fair transitions and resilience, with a special focus on premium flyers, in view of investing all or parts of the proceeds into resilient investments and fair transitions. The European Commission will continue to provide technical support for this initiative.
The coalition aims to improve domestic revenue mobilization of developing countries and support international solidarity (in particular with regards to climate change mitigation and adaptation, pandemics and other development challenges). It will work to increase the number of countries applying flight ticket levies, including on premium travels, and to tax private jets based on best practices, while ensuring upward harmonization and greater progressivity in countries which already have such levies in place. It will also work on principles for the use of the proceeds.
In parallel, these countries may explore options for a generalized taxation at international level, building on current discussions at ICAO on the decarbonization of the aviation sector, in respect of the Chicago convention.
Notes to Editors:
The countries in the coalition for premium flyers contribution to fair transitions and resilience are France, Kenya, Barbados, Spain, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone and Antigua & Barbuda. The European Commission will provide technical support.
