“No More Free Rides for the Ultra-Rich” — Digital Billboard Action Targets Private Jet Pollution During NYC Climate Week and ICAO Summit
As Climate Week NYC and the United Nations General Assembly wrap up, campaigners confronted world leaders with bold visuals and messages demanding solidarity levies on premium and private air travel. With a giant digital billboard taking to the streets outside the United Nations headquarters, climate and economic justice activists highlight the grotesque inequity of an aviation sector where the ultra-rich use private jets like taxis, while ordinary people pay more tax on a gas fill-up than billionaires pay to fly across borders.
“Working class people pay a tax at the pump every time we fill up, but billionaires don’t pay a cent to top up their private jet daily drivers?” said Andrew Nazdin, director of Glasgow Actions Team. “A fair levy on premium and private air travel could raise billions for public healthcare, schools, and fighting the climate crisis — and the mega-rich wouldn’t even notice the cost.”
With aviation among the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, campaigners are calling on leaders to commit to fair, progressive levies on private jets and premium air travel — measures already in place in over 40 countries. These levies could raise billions for climate action, development, education, and healthcare, while ensuring the highest emitters — not ordinary travelers — pay their fair share.
Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases, yet kerosene remains largely untaxed. The sector already produces 2.5 percent of global CO₂ emissions, more than 4 percent once other impacts are included, and is on track to account for a quarter of emissions by 2050. Premium travel is the worst offender: business- and first-class seats emit up to four times more than economy, while private jets pollute up to 14 times more than commercial planes. Just one percent of the world’s population accounts for more than half of aviation’s emissions.
Photos available to download at this link. Free to use with attribution to Jason DeCrow of Associated Press for Glasgow Actions Team
Earlier in the week, similar billboards took over the streets of Montreal during the triennial International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Assembly. The ICAO Assembly (Sept. 23–Oct. 3, Montreal) brings together regulators from 193 countries to debate aviation’s future. With aviation among the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, campaigners are calling on leaders to commit to fair, progressive levies on private jets and premium air travel — measures already in place in over 40 countries. These levies could raise billions for climate action, development, education, and healthcare, while ensuring the highest emitters — not ordinary travelers — pay their fair share.
Photos available to download at this link. Free to use with attribution to Andy Duback of Associated Press for Glasgow Actions Team
About the Glasgow Actions Team:
Formed before the UN Climate Conference in 2021, the Glasgow Actions Team is committed to pushing the world's climate champions to go farther, calling out the blockers, and exposing the deniers. Learn more at www.glasgowactions.com
