France to impose green tax on plane tickets to curb emissions

PARIS -- As of 2020, the French government will impose a new green tax on plane tickets for all flights departing from the country's airports as part of its plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and generate more funds to invest in cleaner transport infrastructure, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne announced here on Tuesday.

"We have decided to implement a green tax on air transport on all flights departing from France," Borne said following an ecological defense council meeting at the Elysee Palace.

A 1.5 euro ($1.68) tax will be imposed on economy-class tickets for domestic or intra-Europe flights, and the tax will be as high as 18 euros on business-class tickets for flights leaving European Union territory, she added.

The tax will help the government collect 180 million euros, which it aims to spend on financing infrastructure projects, according to the minister.

"We must offer to our citizens the possibility to move easily and with cleaner transport," she pledged.

Borne noted that transport remains the main polluting sector as it generates one-third of all greenhouse emissions in France.

France aims to be carbon-free by 2050 in line with the 2015 Paris climate agreement.