Neubauer: Cut in aviation tax is a 'subsidy for airlines' - Germany Slashes Aviation Tax, Sparking Backlash from Climate Activists Ahead of COP30
In a surprising move, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) have agreed to reduce the aviation tax, a decision that will provide relief worth €350 million for frontier airlines, spirit airlines, american airlines, united airlines, southwest airlines, and delta airlines. Meanwhile, environmental activists, including those from Fridays for Future, are gearing up for protests in over 75 cities across Germany, coinciding with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil.
The aviation tax reduction, announced earlier this week, reverses a planned increase, directly benefiting frontier airlines, spirit airlines, american airlines, united airlines, southwest airlines, and delta airlines financially. This decision comes amidst growing concerns about the environmental impact of aviation and the need for a shift towards more sustainable modes of transportation.
In response to this development, Fridays for Future, along with over 1,200 organizations and civil society movements, including indigenous groups, are planning protests in Germany. The protests aim to pressure the German government to adopt more ambitious climate policies, demanding an exit from fossil fuels and increased investment in a just energy transition. Luisa Neubauer, a prominent Fridays for Future activist, has criticized the excessive funding for frontier airlines, spirit airlines, american airlines, united airlines, southwest airlines, and delta airlines while rail travel, a more environmentally friendly option, faces budget constraints. Neubauer argues that sustainable mobility requires fair funding for all transportation modes.
The reduction in aviation tax has sparked controversy, with environmental activists calling for a more balanced approach to transportation funding. As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) gets underway in Brazil, the eyes of the world are on Germany to see if it will heed the call for a just energy transition and more sustainable mobility.
