The Global Solidarity Levies Task Force has released its progress report Scaling Solidarity: Progress on Global Solidarity Levies at COP29, unveiling options for a range of new solidarity levies to bridge the global climate finance gap.
The report unveils more specific policy options for levies that the task force has investigated since its inception: fossil fuels, aviation, maritime fuel, carbon pricing and financial transactions.
It also identifies three additional policy areas for further research, which have significant potential to raise finance equitably while reducing emissions and pollution:
- A cryptocurrency levy: Recognizing the high energy demand of crypto mining, a $0.045 per kWh levy could reduce emissions while generating $5.2 billion in revenue.
- An ultra-high-net-worth individual tax: A coordinated minimum 2% tax on billionaires, recently discussed at the G20, could yield $200-250 billion, fostering a fairer global tax landscape.
- A plastics production levy: A levy on primary polymer production, set at $60-90 per tonne, could raise $25-35 billion annually, supporting actions against plastic pollution.
The task force has made significant progress in coalition-building and generating political will for implementing solidarity levies globally. The Coalition for Global Solidarity Levies has grown to include 17 countries and partner organisations/observers including Spain, Senegal, Denmark, the African Union and the European Commission.
Read the full progress report here.