Opportunity Green

This year’s COP has drawn to an end, and despite the dramas, a climate finance deal has finally been set. But is it enough? Our Senior Director of Climate Diplomacy, Emma Fenton, who attended the first week of #COP29 doesn’t think so. “The deal agreed at COP29 was far from what climate vulnerable countries have been calling for and is dwarfed by the scale of the need,” they say. “This means there is even more urgency for shipping to step up and agree how to price GHG emissions at the IMO negotiations in 2025. It also brings more sharply into focus the lack of ambition shown by the aviation sector in contributing to global solidarity.” Read more about different countries’ reactions to the deal here ?? ??

?? Opportunity Green is proud to support the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force. Launched at COP28 to close the climate finance gap between developed and developing countries, the GSLTF is working on global levies to unlock new and innovative sources of finance. This includes levies on the shipping and aviation industries. ?? Our legal team recently demonstrated why there is no barrier in international law to taxing aviation fuel (https://lnkd.in/g8HYDNmu), and in January filed a submission with United Nations Human Rights showing how a kerosene tax and low air passenger levy of just $1 per flight could raise billions in climate finances (https://lnkd.in/e7eHjnwy). ?? We've also been working with SIDS and climate vulnerable states at the International Maritime Organization to push for an ambitious basket of midterm measures including a levy on shipping GHG emissions. Read our Policy Assistant, Aqila Kiani Indra's blog on the recent negotiations: https://lnkd.in/eD8HV_CY Read the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force's interim progress report published for #COP29 here: https://lnkd.in/ddcuKaQD #ClimateFinance #Taxation #Shipping #Aviation #Solidarity

The ONLY way to meet both our biodiversity targets and our decarbonisation targets for aviation and shipping is to focus on e-fuels, maximise efficiency and reduce demand in the first place. This is a hugely overlooked part of the debate on decarbonising both industries. While some of the worst biofuel offenders cannot be used to comply with the EU rules, the biofuels that are allowed still put our biodiversity targets at severe risk. Luckily there are ways to decarbonise both sectors without endangering biodiversity, and that is why the SASHA Coalition has brought industry from across the aviation and shipping industries together to focus on policy that will unlock decarbonisation - but not at the cost of our biodiversity. This is especially important in a week where BirdLife International released a report showing that the EU is falling short on it's 2030 biodiversity goals. Do the aviation and shipping industries really want to be the industries that tip us over to completely failing on those targets? If you want to be part of the industry that is tackling the twin nature and climate crises, then come and join us. DM me and I can talk you through the benefits of membership. In the meantime, read the full report ?? P.s. in case anyone thinks we are blinded to the downsides of green hydrogen fuels, we do recognise the huge amount of additional industry-funded renewable energy that will be needed (and this is in the report). But when looking at all the fuel options holistically, e-fuels are the winners. With of course the most important exception being that the best fuel for the environment is the one you do not burn at all: efficiency and demand reduction as the real environmental winners. Anna Stratton James Wood Matt Finch Michael Liebreich Mariano Berkenwald Nanna Baldvinsdottir Scott Pendry Dominic Weeks Keith Lawless Tim Johnson Katharine Palmer Antoon Van Coillie Matteo Mirolo Cathryn Estes Cerulogy Emma Richardson Holly Attwell

?? Groundbreaking new research from the SASHA Coalition into alternative shipping and aviation fuels' impacts on biodiversity. In a nutshell: using biofuels to decarbonise these sectors would put EU biodiversity goals at serious risk. Only green hydrogen e-fuels (which also have the highest emissions reduction potential) are compatible with EU biodiversity goals. Watch this great explainer video and read the full report here. ???? https://lnkd.in/euV6PGe9

We are ??% behind this open letter from T&E and climate and aviation scientists warning of the warming impact of contrails and the risks of delaying action. How come? Because research shows that taking action on reducing warming contrails is a no-brainer in terms of its cost, its benefits for the climate and -crucially - its ability to be implemented. Find out more??

? As #COP29 decides a new climate finance target, the next question will be: where does the money come from? Our new legal report debunks the myth that a tax on aviation fuel is prohibited under international law, making it a rich and untapped potential source of revenue. Our analysis shows that: ?? The 1944 Chicago Convention does not prohibit taxing international aviation fuel. ?? States subject to common fuel tax exemptions ‘on the basis of reciprocity’ in air services agreements are free to tax aviation fuel on flights to other states under that agreement. ???? Within the EU, Member States can tax aviation fuel used in domestic flights and flights between two or more Member States that have agreed to such a tax. ???? The UK could tax aviation fuel on flights to the EU and vice versa. A kerosene levy could unlock billions in climate finances from a historically under-taxed high polluter that serves only a small population globally.?Jet fuel should be one of the places states look first for new sources of climate finance. ? Read our full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/g8HYDNmu #ClimateFinance #ClimateJustice #LossandDamage #Aviation #Tax

Don't miss this joint Cornerstone Barristers and Opportunity Green webinar at 13.00 UK time today!

As #COP29 decides a new climate finance target, the next question will be: where does the money come from? ?? ? Our new legal report debunks the myth that a tax on aviation fuel is prohibited under international law, making it a rich and untapped potential source of revenue. "It’s a lot easier to tax international aviation fuel than most people think. Debunking legal myths around fuel taxation could unlock new streams of green finances and advance climate justice," says our Legal Director David K. in BusinessGreen. ?? https://lnkd.in/e4UrQWHz ?? Our analysis shows that: ?? The 1944 Chicago Convention does not prohibit taxing international aviation fuel. ?? States subject to common fuel tax exemptions ‘on the basis of reciprocity’ in air services agreements are free to tax aviation fuel on flights to other states under that agreement. ???? Within the EU, Member States can tax aviation fuel used in domestic flights and flights between two or more Member States that have agreed to such a tax. ???? The UK could tax aviation fuel on flights to the EU and vice versa. A kerosene levy could unlock billions in climate finances from a historically under-taxed high polluter that serves only a small population globally.?Jet fuel should be one of the places states look first for new sources of climate finance. Read our full analysis here: https://lnkd.in/g8HYDNmu #ClimateFinance #ClimateJustice #LossAndDamage #Aviation #Tax

This week marks one year since OG gained its brilliant Chief Operating Officer (COO) Gill Johnson, whose achievements in just 12 months are countless. At a time of rapid growth, Gill’s compassionate leadership has helped nurture our internal culture, overseen our expansion into Europe, and developed the strong operations at our foundation. ? But Gill’s OG anniversary is inextricable from a family tragedy that has fundamentally shaped her last year. Here Gill reflects on a year marked both by her extraordinary achievements as COO and at the same time by grief.

?? Webinar: Bold Climate Philanthropy for 2025 and Beyond ?? To tackle climate change effectively, we need bold, systemic approaches—and climate philanthropy has the potential to keep us moving toward progress in 2025 and beyond. On December 5, join us for a timely and informative webinar during the year’s biggest week for philanthropic giving. Together, we’ll explore high-impact climate giving opportunities that align with the urgency this moment demands. ?? When: Thursday, December 5 at 9 am PT | 12 pm ET | 5 pm GMT ??? Moderator: Randall Kempner, Executive Director, Climate Philanthropy Catalyst Coalition ?? What you’ll gain: - An understanding of 8 high-impact philanthropic strategies and 6 high-impact climate nonprofits to drive change - Expert insights spanning industries from heavy industry to? transportation to geothermal energy, and more - Practical tools to connect your giving to systems-level change ?? Speakers: - Dr. Daniel Stein, Founder & Executive Director, Giving Green - Aoife O'Leary, CEO & Founder, Opportunity Green - Terra Rogers, Program Director, Clean Air Task Force - Dr. Peter Schniering, Founder, Future Cleantech Architects ?? Register now: https://lnkd.in/eEGEFzMu #climateaction #climatephilanthropy?