A coalition including France, Kenya, Barbados, and others aims to expand air travel taxes to raise billions for climate resilience in developing countries ahead of the 2025 UN climate summit.
A coalition of countries including France, Kenya, Barbados, Somalia, Benin, Sierra Leone, and Antigua and Barbuda has announced plans to promote taxes on airline tickets, covering business-class travel and private jets.
The goal is to increase funding for climate adaptation, especially in developing countries most affected by global warming. This initiative was revealed ahead of the UN climate summit scheduled for November 2025 in Brazil.
The coalition intends to use some of the tax revenues to support “resilient investments and fair transitions” in poorer nations, helping them raise domestic revenue crucial for their development. France, Kenya, and Barbados have previously called for similar “solidarity levies” on industries like shipping, fossil fuels, plastics, and cryptocurrency to raise funds for climate action.
Estimates suggest that applying these levies broadly on air travel could generate up to EUR 187 billion (USD 220 billion). Greenpeace welcomed the announcement, stressing that taxing the most polluting forms of travel is both fair and necessary. Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, wealthier nations are required to finance climate adaptation efforts in poorer countries.
