Oxfam’s Report on Private Jet Tax for Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes Oxfam Scotland’s report, Cleared for Take-off: A Private Jet Tax for Scotland, published on 18 September 2024; understands that private jets are five to 14 times more polluting per passenger than commercial flights, and around 50 times more than trains; further understands that, since 2019, the same year that the Scottish Government declared a climate emergency, there have been 54,746 recorded private flights in Scotland; understands that there were 12,911 recorded private flights to and from Scotland’s airports in 2023, around 6% of the UK total; further understands that, if an air departure tax had been operational in Scotland in 2023, with a private jet tax embedded, it could have raised up to £21.5 million more in tax receipts to invest in climate action, such as sustainable transport initiatives; acknowledges Oxfam Scotland’s reported warning that, considering the wealthiest 1% is contributing more emissions than two thirds of humanity, without the implementation of fair policies, such as a private jet tax, this injustice will only deepen, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider the recommendations in the report and implement a tax on high-emitting private jets in Scotland as soon as possible.