Over Emitting, Under Taxed and Over Here?

The Earth's richest 1% of humans, generate more climate-changing emissions, than its poorest 66%. It's, of course, the poor who tend to most suffer the consequences of global heating. Most of the excessive emissions of the rich, are consequences of their modes/frequencies of travel. Only the mega rich have superyachts. They also often use private jets for their air travel. Private jets are up to 14 times more polluting per passenger, than a commercial flight. They're also around 50 times more polluting than a train. Bizzarely, a passenger on a private jet or a commercial flight, pays far less tax than the driver of a petrol/diesel-fuelled car, making the same journey. Jet fuel isn't subject to duty. This arrangement is the opposite of 'the polluter should pay' principle. The UK's private jet use is the second highest in Europe (after France). It's also home to circa 450 superyachts, each with massive 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The charity, Oxfam, advocates applying fair taxes to UK superyachts and private jets. They estimate this could bring in around £2bn per year. It would also be an incentive to reduce emissions (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/18/superyacht-private-jet-oxfam-climate-finance). Oxfam's suggestion seems equitable. The UK Treasury, however, simply say "We do not recognise these calculations". Perhaps what they are really saying, is that they are worried about scaring off the mega rich? The UK isn't alone in its attitude to the protected status of the wealthy. As already noted, France occupies top spot in the table of European private jet use. That country, to a great fanfare, brought in a 'green' law. It banned internal commercial air flights of up to 2 hours, when that journey could be completed, in the same time, by train. That law actually has had only a miniscule effect on that country's travel-related 'greenhouse gas' emissions. The key word is, of course, commercial. It seems probable that rich folk have been further incentivised to travel by private jet. This may account for France's top ranking on this measure. If the mega rich want to use highly polluting means of transport, they must be subject to commensurate taxes to pay for the privilege. Draughts, fire, flooding and illness cost money. The present arrangement doesn't incentivise anyone to make needed lifestyle changes. The middle class and the poor aren't going to change, if the rich are treated as special cases.