PARIS, France (AFP) — France, Spain and Kenya are among a group of countries spearheading a drive at the COP30 climate summit for a new tax on luxury air travel, a source close to the matter told Agence France-Presse.

Rooted in the idea that a small elite of premium flyers should pay more for their outsized contribution to global warming, the proposal will likely pit them against the powerful aviation industry.

Diplomats from the coalition of more than 10 countries are pushing for more to come aboard.

“We want to expand the coalition and, in particular, bring in more European states,” the source said.

Business and first-class seats carry roughly triple the planet-warming emissions footprint of an economy ticket, while private jets emit up to 14 times more per passenger-kilometer compared to commercial flights.

Countries that do not yet have such a tax would commit to imposing levies on business and first-class tickets as well as private jets.

Those that already do — such as France — are pledging greater ambition, with steeper and more progressive rates. In practice, that could mean a dedicated surcharge on first-class travel.

For private jets, the tax could be tied to kerosene consumption, though other mechanisms are under discussion.

The initiative is led by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, a group launched in 2023 and co-chaired by Barbados, Kenya and France.

They have chosen COP30, held in Brazil’s Belem and billed as a moment for nations to move from climate pledges to action, as the runway to launch their proposal.