“Tax Luxury Flights!” Youth Activists Target Luxury Flyers at COP30 with Mass Banners, Paper Airplanes

Danish-led Youth Movement Demands Global Aviation Tax to Fund Climate Justice

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On the ground contact: Alix Vanwaetermuelen, +4369010214921 

For interview requests: Denise Robbins, denise@glasgowactions.com, +1 608-320-6582 (WhatsApp, Signal)

Belém, Brazil — As COP30 delegates debate how to finance a just transition, youth activists from Denmark’s Green Youth Movement, joined by the Glasgow Actions and Team, Make Polluters Pay staged a colorful and high-energy action calling for a solidarity levy on aviation emissions. 

The action demanded that countries including Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Brazil join the Global Solidarity Taskforce on Aviation — a coalition pushing for a levy on private jets and luxury flights to fund climate and social justice worldwide.

With a soaring message — “Tax Luxury Flights” — the youth activists spotlighted the inequality of a system where the wealthiest 1% of flyers cause over half of global aviation emissions while paying almost nothing toward a just green transition. They unfurled a massive banner and were accompanied by giant paper airplanes with slogans like “Make the Polluters Pay” and “Your Private jets = Our Climate Debts” in various languages. 

“Private jets and luxury flights are the clearest example of climate inequality,” said Selma de Montgomery, activist in The Green Youth Movement Denmark. “While the planet burns, the richest flyers glide above responsibility. It’s time for governments to make them pay their fair share.”

“A fair levy on premium and private air travel could raise billions for health, education, and climate resilience,” said Emil Bejer-Pedersen, also from The Green Youth Movement Denmark. “At COP30, youth are saying clearly: solidarity means the polluters must pay.”

David Hillman, Stamp Out Poverty - founder member of Make Polluters Pay Coalition, said: “It’s ridiculous that a billionaire pays less duty on a private jet flight to Dubai than I do driving to the supermarket! It’s a no-brainer, governments need to step up and make these mega-rich, mega-polluters pay up - now!”

This action precedes a High-Level Ministerial Meeting on Solidarity Levies on Saturday, November 15, at 10:30 am in Special Events Room 2 - Madeira (Blue Zone). Building on the Baku to Belem Roadmap, this special event will feature the launch of the GSTLF's COP30 report, "The Untapped Potential of Solidarity Levies," exploring how solidarity levies can mobilize new revenues for global climate and development finance.

Globally, 1% of the population accounts for more than 50% of aviation emissions. Premium and private flights emit up to four times more CO₂ per passenger than economy travel, yet aviation fuel remains tax-free, unlike fuel for cars and trains.

A solidarity levy on luxury air travel, modeled on successful examples in France, Spain, and the Maldives, could mobilize billions annually for climate finance — without reducing connectivity or harming economies.

Public support for fair-flight taxation is overwhelming: three-quarters of global citizens agree that wealthy travellers should contribute more to tackle climate change. The Global Solidarity Taskforce on Aviation calls for countries to adopt coordinated levies that fund climate resilience, debt relief, and development goals.

About the Green Youth Movement Denmark: 

The biggest youth-led movement in Denmark holding leaders accountable by demanding fair and funded climate action. Read more on www.dgub.dk

About the Glasgow Actions Team:

Formed ahead of COP26, GAT pushes the world’s climate champions to go farther, calling out the blockers and exposing the deniers. Learn more at www.glasgowactions.com

About Make Polluters Pay:

An American nationwide movement to make polluters pay for the damage they’re inflicting on our climate and communities. Read more on:  https://makepolluterspay.net/.