A suggested solution by a charity proposes that a 0.5% tax on wealthy British citizens could fully meet the UK’s “fair share” contribution to the international loss and damage fund, which aids countries greatly affected by the effects of global climate change.

An analysis by Christian Aid, a group that fights against poverty, found that imposing a tax of 5 pence on every £10 of an individual’s wealth over £1 million would generate £15 billion annually by 2030. This amount is significantly more than the projected UK contribution of $15 billion (£12 billion) to the new fund.

The loss and damage fund, established at last year’s Cop27 climate summit in Egypt, is intended to provide compensation for climate-related disasters that are beyond the possibility of adaptation.

The fund has been desired by developing nations since 1992 and has caused the most disagreement at the UN conference. Many of the details of the fund still need to be resolved.

The projected expense of this is a topic of debate, but the commonly referenced estimate for the year 2030 is between $290 billion and $580 billion annually. This takes into consideration the effects of inflation and increasing climate impacts, with a midpoint estimate of approximately $400 billion. Christian Aid approximates the UK’s “fair share” of this to be 3.5%, equivalent to $15 billion.

The charity claims that implementing a wealth tax as proposed in their report would impact the wealthiest 5% of households, with the top 1% bearing a disproportionate amount. The report also states that this approach has the benefit of targeting those who are more likely to engage in high levels of pollution through their consumption and personal investments.

The report proposes that the total amount could be obtained by implementing a tax of up to 95% on the extra earnings of fossil fuel corporations, which are currently experiencing unprecedented profits. Alternatively, the funds could be generated through a mix of approaches such as air travel fees, emissions trading systems, and a broader financial transactions tax.

Nushrat Rahman Chowdhury, Christian Aid’s climate justice policy adviser, who wrote the report, said: “Climate change is the biggest issue of global injustice facing the world today. Some of the people that have done the least to cause it are experiencing the most terrible consequences. How we address that injustice fairly is at the heart of international climate negotiations.”

No nation has currently reached a consensus on the amount they will contribute to the fund for loss and damage. According to Chowdhury’s report, wealthier countries should employ progressive taxation to generate the necessary funds and emphasize the urgency of the climate crisis.

According to Liane Schalatek, an associate director at the Heinrich Böll Stiftung Foundation, the study demonstrates the potential of progressive taxation to generate additional funding for developing countries and aid the most vulnerable in addressing loss and damage.

Wealthy nations have a moral and historical duty to take action in taxing wealth, financial transactions, and negative effects on the environment. This is achievable and should be a top political priority.

Source: theguardian.com