French environmental groups are proposing a "frequent flyer tax" to discourage travellers from taking the plane when possible, arguing that reducing air traffic is essential if France is to cut its greenhouse gas emissions.
Technological solutions such as more sustainable fuels won't make enough of a difference on their own to keep France on track to meet the targets set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement, according to green coalition Réseau Action Climat ("Climate Action Network").
"It is imperative to reduce air traffic now," the group says in a report released on Thursday, pointing out that the aviation industry generated 7 percent of France's carbon dioxide emissions in 2019.
It is calling for a "frequent flyer tax" that would work in the opposite way to the air miles loyalty system: the more a passenger flies, the more they pay for a ticket.
According to the network's modelling, the measure would "reduce emissions from the aviation sector by 13.1 percent, while shifting most of the burden onto the most regular passengers and generating 2.5 billion euros in revenue".
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Revival of railways
The group argues it would also help to finance improvements to France's rail system and "improve tax fairness" by charging plane passengers according to distance, just as those who travel by car have to pay a tax on fuel.
Its other proposals include banning private jets, getting rid of short-haul flights and introducing a quota of one return flight per person per year.
According to its report, air travel is used "mainly by well-off, educated, young, urban people to go on holiday".
The wealthiest 20 percent of households in France account for 42 percent of air travel emissions, the vast majority for leisure purposes, the study said, citing a government survey from 2018.
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