A coalition of 13 countries has introduced new taxes on luxury air travel, targeting private jets and first- and business-class tickets, as part of efforts to curb carbon emissions and fund climate initiatives. The bloc, largely made up of Global South nations, now includes Djibouti, Nigeria, and South Sudan, which joined last week. Kenya, Benin, and Sierra Leone were among the original eight members, joined by Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and France. Brazil, Fiji, and Vanuatu participate as observers.
Revenues from the tax will support climate mitigation and adaptation programs. Coalition officials have encouraged other countries to adopt similar measures to reduce aviation-related CO2 emissions. Although most luxury travel emissions originate in high-income countries, particularly the United States, where private aviation produces far higher emissions per passenger, the coalition is leading by example in the fight against climate change.
