PISFCC Supports the Push for Fossil Fuel Taxation
“Make Polluters Pay”
Bonn, Germany: 20 June 2025 - At the midway point of the June climate meetings in Bonn, the unresolved finance failures of COP29 in Baku still hang heavy over negotiations. But amid stalled talks, a powerful narrative emerged at a press conference hosted by Oxfam International and Greenpeace International: the public is ready to make polluters pay.
Unveiling a new 13-country poll and launching the Polluters Pay Pact, campaigners spotlighted growing global demand for accountability from fossil fuel corporations whose emissions are driving the climate crisis. The event brought together voices from the frontline, climate policy, and legal advocacy to make one thing clear: taxing Big Oil is no longer radical, it’s necessary, and overdue.
Overwhelming Support to Tax Polluters, New Poll Finds
Rebecca Newsom, Global Political Lead for Greenpeace’s Stop Drilling, Start Paying campaign, opened with an important reminder: “Fossil fuel-driven climate disasters are increasing in frequency and intensity.” She cited Canada’s wildfire-surrounded G7 as a chilling example, adding, “Over 150 unprecedented extreme weather events occurred in 2024 alone - fueled by fossil emissions.”
Greenpeace and Oxfam commissioned a global public opinion survey conducted in May and June 2025 across 13 countries that collectively represent nearly half the world’s population. The headline findings were unequivocal:
81% support taxing oil, gas, and coal companies to pay for damages caused by climate change: such as floods, wildfires, droughts, and health impacts.
When asked who should pay to support survivors of fossil fuel-driven climate disasters:
66% chose oil and gas companies
Only 5% chose working people
Just 9% supported taxes like VAT on goods
20% supported general business taxes
86% support directing these tax revenues to communities most impacted by climate change
75% believe wealthier airline passengers, frequent flyers, business-class, and private jet users should pay higher taxes
68% say fossil fuel companies and the super-rich negatively influence politics in their country
77% say they would back political candidates who campaign on taxing polluters and the ultra-wealthy
“This is a public mandate. Governments should feel emboldened to act,” said Newsom.
Cross-Party, Cross-Continent, Cross-Class Support
Ashfaq Khalfan, Director of Climate Justice at Oxfam America, walked the audience through the demographic and country-level data. The takeaway? Broad support across ideologies and income brackets, even in countries led by fossil fuel-friendly politicians.
Canada (G7 host): 75% support overall, including 58% of Conservative Party voters
Germany: 68% support overall; 76% from CDU/CSU, 75% from SPD, and 50% from AfD
South Africa (G20 host): 80% support across ANC and Democratic Alliance
Brazil (COP30 host): 91% support 91% from the Workers’ Party, 89% from Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party
United States: 75% support 63% of Republicans, 86% of Democrats
India: 80% support across both BJP (81%) and Congress (80%)
“Even Trump’s base is saying, ‘pay, baby, pay,’” Khalfan quipped.
Taxing Fossil Profits Could Raise $400 Billion Annually
Oxfam used this data to unveil a model policy proposal: a Fossil Fuel Excess Profits Tax targeting companies’ fossil operations, not consumers.
20% tax on fossil fuel profits above regular corporate tax
Rises to 50% on excessive returns above 3%
Only applies to fossil fuel revenue, not renewable energy operations
Projected to raise $400 billion annually in its first year
Designed to avoid passing costs to consumers, while incentivizing investment in renewables
“These companies made $583 billion in post-tax profits last year,” said Khalfan. “They are actively scaling back low-carbon targets, this tax is essential to shift the economics.”
He added that Oxfam’s broader research shows governments could raise up to $680 billion annually through a mix of polluter and super-rich taxes.
From Polling to Pact: Launching a Global Climate Justice Alliance
The event also marked the official launch of the Polluters Pay Pact, a global alliance of over 60 NGOs, labor unions, and frontline leaders demanding new fossil fuel taxes to support communities devastated by climate breakdown.
“This is about amplifying voices from the frontlines,” said Newsom. “We’re going to COP30, the UN Tax Convention, and the Seville Financing for Development Conference to keep up the pressure.”
Among the pact’s frontline champions:
Sundeep: street vendors union leader in India, facing brutal heatwaves
Nonkululeko: South African community rights activist
Maria: municipal mayor in the Philippines
Daniel: volunteer forest firefighter in Brazil
Greg: former fire commissioner, New South Wales, Australia
Vishal: Director, Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), Fiji
Pacific Youth: Climate Justice Is Now a Legal Imperative
PISFCC Director, Vishal Prasad brought the voice of Pacific youth to the stage, connecting tax justice to a broader movement for legal accountability.
“In the Pacific, we’ve lived through the devastation caused by polluters. The 1.5°C target is still our lifeline,” he said. “That’s why we launched the campaign for an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to clarify states’ legal obligations to act on climate change.”
That advisory opinion is now underway.
“We believe it can serve as a guiding star for accountability,” Prasad added. “With this Pact, and this public support, the message is clear: climate justice is a historical, moral, and now legal imperative.”
Next Steps: What You Can Do
Governments must act, but the pressure to do so must come from all directions. Whether you're a policymaker, campaigner, journalist, student, or concerned citizen, here are key ways to keep the momentum going:
Read and share the full survey results and visuals
These materials from Greenpeace and Oxfam show overwhelming global public support for taxing fossil fuel companies.
👉 Access the folder hereSupport the Polluters Pay Pact
Join the global call to introduce new taxes on fossil fuel profits and channel those funds to frontline communities hit hardest by the climate crisis. Elevate testimonies and voices from the Pact’s frontline partners.
👉 Visit the Polluters Pay Pact websiteAmplify the ICJAO campaign on climate change
In the lead-up to the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion delivery, help share pre-AO key messages via PISFCC.
👉 Access the latest messaging via [our Trello Boards or our Social Media Toolkit Doc]
Stand with us to echo that accountability is no longer optional, but it's a legal, moral, and public mandate. It's time to make polluters pay.
-Ends-
You can find the other press releases on the Greenpeace International and Oxfam International websites. News coverage in places like the Guardian, Enviro News Nigeria, L'humanité and el periodico. 
New findings on public support for making polluters pay
Click Here to watch the Press Conference
Footage Courtesy of UNFCCC
