Dear EU and UK Leaders,

As COP30 enters its final day, the growingPremium Flyers Solidarity Coalition is offering a clear and constructive example of what global cooperation can achieve. Countries across Africa, Europe, Latin America, and Small Island States are demonstrating that solidarity levies are not only fair and feasible — they are a practical pathway to deliver the Baku-to-Belém Roadmap and scale the debt-free climate, global health, and development finance the world urgently needs.

The Coalition, supported by Benin, Djibouti, France, Kenya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, and Spain, with Antigua and Barbuda, Brazil, Fiji, and Vanuatu as observers, shows what is possible when ambition is matched with action. The Global Solidarity Levies Task Force’s latest report provides governments with robust legal, economic, and technical guidance, while public support for premium flyers levies remains consistently strong across Europe, regardless of age group or voting preferences. 

Premium aviation levies are grounded in the polluter-pays principle and simple to implement. Existing models, from airline ticket charges to solidarity fees, already demonstrate how modest surcharges on high-emitting premium flights can generate predictable, grant-based finance for vulnerable countries without impacting ordinary citizens. 

With fiscal constraints tightening across the EU and the UK, solidarity levies present also a politically viable and fiscally responsible option to generate much-needed headroom. It aligns with existing climate commitments, meets growing public expectations, and delivers real results — all while shifting the burden back onto the highest emitters.

We, the undersigned civil society organizations, call on EU and UK governments to:

  1. Join the Premium Flyers  Solidarity Coalition immediately, at minimum as observers
  2. Support the development of fair, non-debt-creating solidarity levies on premium flyers
  3. Help broaden this coalition to drive meaningful progress before COP30 concludes and beyond.

Europe has long championed climate ambition, fairness, and the polluter-pays principle. Premium aviation levies embody these values in practice: they are simple, fair, implementable, and aligned with growing international leadership. By joining the Coalition now, building on the example set by current members and the momentum generated in Belém, EU and UK governments can help shape a more equitable global financing system and demonstrate credible climate leadership at this pivotal moment.

Sincerely,
15 NGOs and 3 Networks representing over 541 civil society groups

  1. APIT Portugal
  2. Climate Action Network Latin America
  3. DCA actalliance
  4. Eifay Africa
  5. Eko
  6. Germanwatch e.V.
  7. Glasgow Actions Team
  8. Global Citizen
  9. Gflac
  10. Green Economy Coalition
  11. Innovea Development Foundation
  12. Instituto Talanoa
  13. Opportunity Green
  14. RANA
  15. Rani
  16. Safe Landing
  17. Sharing Strategies
  18. The ONE Campaign

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Open Letter: EU and UK Governments Must Join the Premium Flyers Solidarity Coalition