Global Solidarity Levies Task Force pushes taxing AI and crypto to fight climate crisis. Laurence Tubiana, co-lead and Paris agreement architect, calls for new levies on energy-hungry tech like AI and cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin alone uses as much electricity yearly as Poland.
Tubiana flagged crypto’s lack of regulation and financial risks. AI taxes are trickier—datacenters might just move elsewhere. Still, central bankers are open to the idea. The taskforce is digging into how to track crypto money flows and AI usage.
France, Spain, Kenya, and others already agreed on new fees for business and first-class airline tickets plus private jets. This could rake in €147 billion yearly if more countries join. Private jet use spiked 50% since 2019. Tubiana points out the tax fairness gap: "When you have your car, you pay tax, and when you fly you don’t pay tax." 
Shipping carbon taxes are also on the table with a key meeting planned in October. Plus, the taskforce is eyeing a stock market trading tax that might bring in €105 billion yearly.
Greenpeace’s Rebecca Newsom wants tougher fossil fuel taxes now. She says public support is overwhelming for holding oil and gas giants accountable.
Tubiana slammed French President Macron’s hesitation on EU emission cuts aiming for 90% less greenhouse gas by 2040. She warned delays hurt France’s climate credibility and global talks for COP30 in Brazil.
France’s Laurence Tubiana stated:
“That could be a first step – again, it’s the same rationale [for AI as taxing cryptocurrency], because they use a lot of energy.”
“Crypto seems to be something which is not regulated at all, and of course it’s a concern, from the financial stability element.”
“Because we need to regulate it – it’s organised crime sometimes, so you should look at where the money’s coming from, and who is the user.”
“When you have your car, you pay tax, and when you fly you don’t pay tax, so there is an element of justice there that resonates.”
“I hope they will wake up to the bad signals they are giving. It’s really not reasonable to think that delaying action will benefit the economy of France. We need innovation, we don’t need to delay.”
