Latest news with #Oxfam
Scoop
14 hours ago
- Business
- Scoop
Global Survey Finds 8 Out Of 10 People Support Taxing Oil And Gas Corporations To Pay For Climate Damages
A majority of people believe governments must tax oil, gas and coal corporations for climate-related loss and damage, and that their government is not doing enough to counter the influence on politics of the super-rich and polluting industries. These are the key findings of a global survey, which reflects broad consensus across political affiliations, income levels and age groups. Today's study, which was jointly commissioned by Greenpeace International and Oxfam International, was launched at the Bonn UN climate meetings (SB62 16-26 June), where governments are discussing key climate policy priorities, including ways to mobilize at least US $1.3 trillion annually in climate finance for Global South countries by 2035. The poll was conducted across 13 countries, including most G7 countries. The study, run by Dynata, comes with additional research by Oxfam showing that a polluter profits tax on 590 oil, gas and coal companies could raise up to US $400 billion in its first year. This is equivalent to the estimated annual costs of climate damage in the Global South. Loss and damage costs from climate change to the Global South are estimated to reach between $290bn to $580bn annually by 2030. Key findings of the survey include: 81% of people surveyed support new taxes on the oil, coal and gas industry to pay for damages caused by fossil-fuel driven climate disasters like storms, floods, droughts and wildfires. 86% of people in surveyed countries support channelling revenues from higher taxes on oil and gas corporations towards communities who are most impacted by the climate crisis. Climate change is disproportionately hitting people in Global South countries, who are historically least responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. When asked who should be taxed to pay for helping survivors of fossil-fuel driven climate disasters, 66% of people across countries surveyed think it should be oil and gas companies compared to than 5% who support taxes on working people, 9% on goods people buy, and 20% in favour of business taxes. 68% felt that the fossil fuel industry and the super-rich had a negative influence on politics in their country. 77% say they would be more willing to support a political candidate who prioritises taxing the super-rich and the fossil fuel industry. Oxfam's research finds that 585 of the world's largest and most polluting fossil fuel companies made $583 billion in profits in 2024, a 68% increase since 2019. The annual emissions of 340 of these corporations (for whom data was available) accounted for over half of global greenhouse gas emissions caused by humans. Their emissions in just one year are enough to cause 2.7 million heat-related deaths over the next century. A polluter profits tax on these companies would ensure that renewable energy is more profitable than fossil fuels, encouraging companies to invest in renewables, as well as avoid more deaths driven by fossil fuelled climate change. This new tax must be accompanied by higher taxes on the super-rich and other polluting companies. Governments should impose such taxes nationally and engage positively at the UN to ensure a fair global tax agreement. Nick Henry, Climate Justice Lead for Oxfam Aotearoa, said: "This new poll shows that people support Oxfam's call for our leaders to make polluting corporations pay for the damage they cause to our climate." "People understand that storms, floods, drought, wildfires, and other extreme weather events are being fuelled by oil and gas corporations. Instead of leaving communities exposed to deal with these devastating costs alone, governments can unlock huge sums of money to invest in climate solutions through making dirty energy companies pay," said Rebecca Newsom, Global Political Lead for Greenpeace's Stop Drilling, Start Paying campaign. "The Polluters Pay Pact unites communities on the frontlines of climate disasters, concerned citizens, first responders like firefighters and humanitarian groups around the world to call on politicians to act now through making polluters, not people, pay for climate damages." Amitabh Behar, Executive Director of Oxfam International, said: "Mega-rich coal, oil and gas companies have known for decades about the damage their polluting products wreak on humanity. Corporations continue to cash in on climate devastation, and their profiteering destroys the lives and livelihoods of millions of women, men and children, predominantly those in the Global South who have done the least to cause the climate crisis. Governments must listen to their people and hold rich polluters responsible for their damages. A new tax on polluting industries could provide immediate and significant support to climate-vulnerable countries and finally incentivise investment in renewables and a just transition." Nick Henry continued: "Rather than subsidising new oil and gas drilling, and fast-tracking coal mines, our Government should be holding fossil fuel companies responsible for the costs facing our communities to adapt to climate change." Notes: The research was conducted by market research company Dynata in May-June, 2025, in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Italy, India, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US. Together, these countries represent close to half the world's population. Results available here. Oxfam's polluter profits tax model is explained in this blog and methodology note attached. The methodology note also explains the basis for the emissions of fossil fuel companies and their impacts on heat-related deaths. These deaths were calculated on the basis of emissions in 2023.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Flight tax could raise €100bn to tackle climate crisis, study finds
Adding a levy to airline tickets could raise more than €100bn a year to pay for the damage done by climate breakdown, research has found. Flying is the most carbon-intensive means of travel, but is artificially cheap as airline fuel is often not taxed, and the environmental impacts are not paid for. Aviation makes up more than 2% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Even in developed countries, only about half of people fly each year and about 1% of the world's population is responsible for more than half of the aviation emissions. Several countries are considering putting a charge on tickets that would raise money to help tackle the climate crisis, particularly for poor countries. Analysis by the Dutch environmental consultancy CE Delft, commissioned by the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, has shown that a levy on tickets that began at €10 on short-haul flights in economy, including domestic flights, rising to €30 on long-haul flights, and €20 for short-haul business-class tickets, rising to €120 for long-haul, would produce revenues of about €106bn a year. If the levy was based on fuel consumption instead of ticket sales, it could raise about €84bn a year, but could be subject to airlines trying to circumvent the system by changing their routes. A levy would have broad public support in many regions, as polling by Oxfam and Greenpeace has found about three-quarters of people in 13 countries thought wealthy air passengers should pay more tax. Countries could also adjust the levy to fall more heavily on the rich and frequent flyers. Private jets could be subject to a separate scheme. France, Kenya and Barbados are leading calls for a flight levy, and for other potential means of raising the funds needed to tackle the climate crisis in developing countries, such as taxes on shipping and fossil fuels. These are known collectively as global solidarity levies, and the charge on aviation is seen as one of the easiest to implement. Laurence Tubiana, the co-chair of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force secretariat, set up by the three countries, said: 'New levies on first- and business-class tickets or private jets can raise vital funds for everything from health to trains, and climate to development. People around the world pay a lot of tax on petrol for their car, while commercial airlines and private jets often pay no or low tax on their fuel. 'We can redress the balance with a modest extra contribution from those with the greatest means, without raising prices for the vast majority who work hard all year to enjoy an occasional holiday.' Governments are meeting in Bonn this week and next to discuss the Cop30 climate summit, which will take place in Brazil this November. Campaigners are concerned that too little attention is being given to climate finance, by which rich countries are supposed to help their poorer counterparts to cope with the impacts of extreme weather. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion At last year's Cop29, in Azerbaijan, countries agreed that $1.3tn should be made available each year by 2035 to help poor countries. Of this, at least $300tn is supposed to come directly from rich countries, with the rest from a variety of sources, including global solidarity levies, the private sector and carbon trading. Many civil society groups are calling for fossil fuel companies to pay for the damage they have caused. The Oxfam and Greenpeace survey found about eight in 10 people would support such a move, in a poll carried out in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, India, Kenya, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, the UK and the US. Chiara Liguori, a senior policy adviser at Oxfam, said: 'Rich polluters are continuing to cash in on climate devastation, and their profiteering is destroying the lives of millions of people who have done the least to cause the escalating climate crisis. 'Fairer taxes on polluting industries around the world could help avoid more deaths, providing immediate and significant support to climate-vulnerable countries, and finally incentivise investment in a fast, fair transition to renewables.'
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
India's rapid adoption of AI in governance risks social inequality?
India's rapid adoption of AI in governance and criminal justice promises efficiency—but without proper safeguards, it risks deepening existing social inequalities. From CCTNS to ICJS, tech-led tools are being deployed without a clear legal framework. Yet, the datasets powering AI reflect a narrow and biased view of Indian society—excluding large sections of women, Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, and rural populations. A 2022 Oxfam report noted women use the internet 33% less than men, and only 31% of rural Indians are online—leaving critical voices and experiences missing from AI systems. This skew in representation has grave implications. In criminal justice, where marginalised groups are already overrepresented among undertrials and prisoners, AI tools may reinforce bias. NCRB's 2018 data shows that two-thirds of Indian prisoners are Dalits, Adivasis, or OBCs—groups also underrepresented in digital spaces. AI decisions, built on historical and social bias, may perpetuate discrimination. Globally, the risk is well-documented. The US-based COMPAS algorithm, used for sentencing, was found to label Black defendants as high-risk twice as often as White defendants for similar crimes. In India, the use of ChatGPT in a court's bail rejection and biased AI hiring tools raise red flags about AI's unchecked use. India's digital and data inequality demands urgent regulatory oversight. Without ethical frameworks, AI tools can replicate caste, religious, and class-based hierarchies in policing, sentencing, and beyond. Technology must be developed with transparency, accountability, and diverse representation. Rather than reinforcing stigma, AI should empower the underrepresented and help correct systemic bias in the criminal justice system.
Metro
4 days ago
- Metro
Drug warning issued ahead of Glastonbury after high-strength MDMA found at Parkl
Festival goers have been warned ahead of Glastonbury after a high-strength drug was found at Parklife last weekend. Pills known as 'Dior' and 'Pop Smoke', believed to be three times as strong as normal MDMA were found circulating at the event in Heaton Park, Manchester. Non-profit drug checking charity The Loop said it had discovered the potentially lethal pills, which tested at between 95 and 340mg MDMA or ecstasy. Experts say MDMA gives an initial euphoric rush, but has dangerous side effects. An overdose can lead to hospitalisation and even fatality. Polydrug use, the use of more than one drug simultaneously or mixing substances with alcohol, can further worsen effects. Festival-goers who ignore rules and are found with illegal substances risk being arrested and evicted from the site. Parklife operates a strict no drugs policy, with attendees advised: 'Please obey the law. Drugs are no more legal at a festival than in the outside world. Drug dealing and consumption will not be tolerated. Parklife has zero tolerance for legal highs.' The Loop also advised revellers to be seek medical attention if they or anyone else in their group experiences 'high body temperature, rigid muscles, excessive sweating, a racing pulse or heart, aggression, uncontrolled repetitive movements, vomiting or seizures'. More Trending It says people should stay hydrated and wait at least 90 minutes before redosing. It added in a statement on X: 'If planning on taking MDMA, be aware of the risks.' People have been known to die at festivals after consuming illegal substances. Ellie Rowe, 18, died while volunteering for Oxfam at Boomtown Festival in Hampshire after taking a toxic combination of ketamine and alcohol. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Glastonbury boss confirms 'exciting plans' for Worthy Farm in 2026 despite fallow year MORE: Every single Glastonbury headliner by year – including last minute drop-outs MORE: Alleged samurai swordsman cooked his cat before 'killing 14-year-old schoolboy'
Saba Yemen
4 days ago
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Tens of thousands demonstrate in The Hague
The Hague - Saba: A massive demonstration took place in The Hague, demanding that the Dutch government take further action to stop the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Human rights groups, such as Amnesty International and Oxfam, organized the march in the city, which headed to the International Court of Justice, declaring that what is happening is a "red line." Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (International)
