Last Thursday was a real thrill for OG as we celebrated our third birthday at London’s beautiful Somerset House. Between drinks and canapés we held a stimulating panel discussion on “Climate, finance & international transport: how should shipping and aviation pay for their environmental impacts in climate vulnerable countries.” Read on to hear about the discussion’s main points. 

The UK’s new Foreign Secretary David Lammy made the welcome announcement that climate would be central to the UK’s foreign diplomacy. Now it just needs to be financed – which is where the undertaxed sectors of shipping and aviation come in.

More and more flights are coming with additional environmental charges, as airlines pass on the costs of their climate damage to flyers. But so far, offsets like this have done little to reduce emissions. What we need is a solid plan to ensure that airlines and their users pay a fair price for their environmental damage.

When it comes to solving the climate crisis, money matters. We set out how the law sets the framework for financial investment and helps keep finance flows on the right track.