The findings coincide with the release of Oxfam’s new global Climate Plunder report, published ahead of COP30 in Brazil, which shows how billionaires’ high-carbon lifestyles, investments, and political influence are locking the world into climate disaster.
The global report shows that since 1990, the richest 0.1% has increased their share of total emissions by nearly a third (32%), whilst the poorest half of humanity have seen their share fall by 3%. If everyone polluted like the very richest, the planet would reach dangerous levels of emissions in less than three weeks.
At UK level, parallel Oxfam’s analysis shows:
- On average, a person from the UK’s richest 0.1% emits 46 times more carbon per year than a person from the poorest 50%.
- Since 1990, the carbon emissions of the UK’s richest 0.1% have shot up by 53%, while the bottom 90% have cut theirs by 26%.
Oxfam is calling for the UK and Scottish Governments to act, urging the Chancellor to implement a package of fair wealth taxes at the upcoming UK Budget to help fund fairer and faster climate action while calling on the Scottish Government to stop prevaricating and finally land a fair tax on the pollution-spewing private jets clogging Scottish skies.
Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: “The climate crisis is an inequality crisis. Around the world, including here in Scotland, the wealthiest are fuelling climate destruction while ordinary people pay the price: from the devastating impacts of storms and flooding to rising bills. The UK and Scottish Governments must help break the chokehold of the super-rich and make them pay up for their climate-wrecking behaviour through taxes on their wealth and luxury lifestyles. It’s time to revoke the super-rich’s licence to pollute and instead compel them to contribute fairly to solutions that protect us all.”
Ahead of next month’s UK Budget, Oxfam is backing calls for better taxes on the wealthy: a fair, practical way to fund a rapid shift to renewable energy and build a safer, fairer society for everyone. Tax Justice UK estimates that a package of measures could raise an extra £60 billion a year. Campaigners point out such taxes are wildly popular, with polling showing 68% of people in Scotland think the very richest should pay more. Wider action is also needed to make polluters pay by fairly taxing high emission industries and highly polluting activities.
Oxfam Scotland is also calling for the Scottish Government to use devolved powers to introduce a tax on pollution-spewing private jets, with the charity revealing that last year alone over 12,000 private flights took off or landed at Scottish airports, including at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, owned by the Scottish Government. Estimates suggest that private jets produce up to 20–30 times more pollution per passenger as economy class flights.
New analysis by Oxfam Scotland shows there was 8,162 recorded private jet flights taking off or landing at Scottish airports in the first eight months of 2025. The monthly average of 1,020 flights so far in 2025 is above the monthly average of 1,012 per month across 2024.
While Scotland’s total emissions have halved since 1990, the Committee on Climate Change says aviation emissions accounted for 4% of the country’s emissions in 2022 and the sector’s emissions are up 20% since 1990. Oxfam Scotland says immediate action to incentivise a reduction in the most polluting flights is essential.
A Private Jet Tax is a common-sense first step and, ahead of the Scottish election, campaigners are urging every political party to commit to the tax and to ensuring private jet passengers pay at least 10 times above the existing higher rate of Air Passenger Duty.
Oxfam Scotland says the Scottish Parliament already has the power to act, having passed legislation for a devolved Air Departure Tax in 2017. Yet the First Minister has so far failed to implement it. The Scottish Government has claimed the delay is because it wants to maintain an existing exemption for passengers from the Highlands and Islands. Campaigners say it should immediately get on with the preparatory work, including designing a fair new exemption that doesn’t let private jet passengers off the hook.
Jamie Livingstone, Head of Oxfam Scotland, said: "The First Minister says he’s ‘very sympathetic’ to the idea of a Scottish private jet tax, but sympathy doesn’t cut pointless pollution. Detailed preparatory work should start immediately and, ahead of the Scottish election, all parties must commit to this no-brainer fair tax and send a clear message that ultra-wealthy polluters won’t be allowed to continue to get off virtually scot-free while the rest of us foot the bill for their climate carnage. A fast, funded, and fair transition isn’t just possible, it’s the only sensible choice. It’s beyond time for the richest polluters to pay up.”
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For more information and interviews, please contact: Rebecca Lozza, Media and Communications Adviser, Oxfam Scotland: rlozza1@oxfam.org.uk / 07917738450
Notes to Editors
