German government divided over COP30 push to make luxury flyers pay extra

Germany’s coalition government is at odds over an initiative by countries including France and Spain to tax luxury flying and private jets to raise funds for climate action, reports der Spiegel. While ministries run by the Social Democrats (SPD) signalled they are open to the initiative, those under conservative (CDU) leadership rejected the idea put forward at the UN climate summit in Brasil (COP30).

“Anyone who flies first class or private jet can easily afford a levy,” a spokesperson for the SPD-led environment ministry told the publication, and the finance ministry run by the same party concurred with this statement. In contrast, the CDU-led transport ministry rejected the proposal by arguing it was “not relevant at present.”

Only last week, the coalition rolled back an airline ticket tax increase implemented by the previous government to support the aviation sector. The move was criticised by environmental NGOs, who accused the government of supporting “the most climate-damaging form of transport” while simultaneously adding burdens on climate-friendly public transport through higher ticket prices.

The countries in favour of making luxury flyers pay extra, which also include Kenya and Nigeria, have formed the “Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition” and said that travellers using business and first-class as well as private jets should pay special levies, either directly on flight tickets or, in the case of private flights, on the kerosene. The funds are then to be channelled into climate protection and adaptation in poorer countries.

The share of CO2 emissions on a long-haul flight in business class is approximately three times higher than in economy class, and in first class it is nine times higher, according to the article. Depending on its size, a trip in a private jet causes up to 80 times more greenhouse gas emissions per passenger than a flight in economy class on a scheduled airline.