Levies on Equity Transactions to Finance Climate Action

Mobilising substantial new resources is essential to address the climate crisis, particularly for low-income developing countries disproportionately affected by its impacts. Financial Transactions Taxes (FTTs) on equity trading, already implemented in several countries and generating around $17 billion annually, represent an underutilised but promising revenue stream. Drawing on existing implementations, particularly in France and the UK, the paper evaluates legal feasibility and revenue potential. We argue that expanding and harmonising such levies — designed with simplicity, enforceability, and fairness in mind —could raise an additional $87 billion per year, significantly contributing to climate action, especially related loss and damage needs. In the context of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force (GSLTF) initiated at COP28, the study highlights the FTT as a technically feasible, low-cost, and non-distortive mechanism to raise climate finance quickly and effectively, fulfilling the criteria sought by GSLTF and offering a practical path forward in the broader effort to scale up international development and climate funding