An Open Letter for World Leaders at This Year’s Financing for Development Conference – Global Citizen

Report on Climate Action and Sustainable Development Goals: Call for Solidarity Levies

Introduction: Urgency of Climate Change and SDG Alignment

Climate change represents the most critical challenge to humanity today, directly impacting multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Despite this, key donor countries are reducing budgets for international aid and climate initiatives. This report calls on world leaders to adopt solidarity levies as innovative financial mechanisms to support climate and development finance, aligning with the Baku to Belèm Roadmap goal of mobilizing $1.3 trillion by 2035.

Current Climate and Development Crisis

1. Global warming has surpassed the 1.5°C threshold, intensifying climate-related disasters.
2. Increasing frequency of deadly hurricanes and severe heatwaves threaten lives and livelihoods.
3. At least 343 million people face acute hunger in 2025, undermining SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
4. Disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations exacerbates inequalities, contravening SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Solidarity Levies: A Pathway to Equitable Climate Finance

Solidarity levies are proposed as equitable financial instruments to generate essential funds for climate transitions and development aid. These levies are grounded in the principle of equity, ensuring that entities with the highest carbon emissions and financial capacity contribute proportionally to global efforts. This approach supports SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) by promoting fairness and accountability in international finance.

Key Recommendations for World Leaders

• Endorse solidarity levies to mobilize new climate and development funds.
• Integrate these levies within international frameworks such as the Fourth Financing for Development Summit (FFD4), COP30, and the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation.
• Prioritize tax justice and social equity in climate finance mechanisms to uphold SDG 10 and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
• Support the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force in advancing these initiatives.

Stakeholder Support and Global Solidarity

This call to action is supported by:

• 55,759 Global Citizens advocating for climate justice.
• 47 NGOs representing 231 organizations worldwide, including:

1. 350.org
2. A Sud
3. Accountability Lab
4. Action Aid International
5. Action Santé Mondiale / Global Health Advocates
6. Agronomes et vétérinaires sans frontières (AVSF) – France
7. Amref Health Africa (France)
8. APIT Portugal
9. Ban Ki-moon Centre for Global Citizens
10. CAFOD
11. Center for Economic and Social Rights (CESR)
12. Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy
13. Christian Aid
14. Coordination SUD
15. Don’t Gas Africa
16. ECCO – The Italian Climate Change Think Tank
17. EcoEquity
18. Entrepreneurship Initiative for African Youth (EIFAY Africa)
19. Equipop
20. FIACAT
21. Friends of the Global Fund Europe
22. Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica
23. Geledés – Instituto da Mulher Negra (Black Women Institute)
24. Germanwatch e.V.
25. Glasgow Actions Team
26. Global Cooperation Institute
27. Global Policy Forum Europe
28. Global Witness
29. Green Economy Coalition
30. Greenpeace Africa
31. Greenpeace International
32. Innovea Development Foundation
33. Instituto Libio
34. JANIC
35. Loss & Damage Youth Coalition
36. Maison d’Assistance Locale aux Miséreux (MALM)
37. MENAFem Movement for Economic, Development and Ecological Justice
38. Norwegian Church Aid
39. Pandemic Action Network
40. Patriotic Millionaires UK
41. Project Everyone
42. SDG2 Advocacy Hub
43. Sharing Strategies
44. Tax Justice UK
45. The ONE Campaign
46. Think Equal
47. WWF-International

Endorsements by Distinguished Personalities

• Sabrina Elba, Model, Activist, and UN Goodwill Ambassador
• H.E. Stefan Löfven, Former Prime Minister of Sweden

Conclusion: A Call for Leadership and Action

The future of the planet and generations to come depends on decisive leadership that embraces solidarity levies as a tool for climate and development finance. This approach aligns with multiple SDGs by promoting climate resilience, reducing inequalities, and fostering global partnerships. Immediate action is imperative to implement these solutions at upcoming international forums, including the Fourth Financing for Development Summit and COP30.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action – The article focuses heavily on climate change as the greatest challenge facing humanity, emphasizing the need for climate finance and urgent action to limit global warming.
2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article mentions 343 million people suffering from acute hunger in 2025, linking climate crises to food insecurity.
3. SDG 1: No Poverty – The call for solidarity levies and equitable financing relates to reducing poverty by supporting development aid and social justice.
4. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article highlights the principle of equity and tax justice, urging that those with greater means and emissions contribute more.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals – The article references international cooperation frameworks such as the UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation and global summits (FFD4, COP30) to mobilize finance.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified

1. SDG 13 Targets:
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.a: Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the UNFCCC to mobilize $100 billion annually by 2020 for climate action in developing countries (extended here to mobilizing $1.3 trillion until 2035 as per the Baku to Belèm Roadmap).
2. SDG 2 Targets:
   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
   • Target 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices.
3. SDG 1 Targets:
   • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of people living in poverty in all its dimensions.
4. SDG 10 Targets:
   • Target 10.1: Achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40% of the population at a rate higher than the national average.
   • Target 10.5: Improve the regulation and monitoring of global financial markets and institutions.
5. SDG 17 Targets:
   • Target 17.3: Mobilize additional financial resources for developing countries from multiple sources.
   • Target 17.4: Assist developing countries in attaining long-term debt sustainability through coordinated policies.
   • Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicators related to SDG 13:
   • Global average temperature increase (crossing 1.5°C threshold) as a measure of climate change severity.
   • Amount of climate finance mobilized (e.g., $1.3 trillion target by 2035).
   • Number and severity of climate-related disasters (hurricanes, heatwaves).
2. Indicators related to SDG 2:
   • Number of people suffering from acute hunger (343 million people in 2025).
3. Indicators related to SDG 1 and 10:
   • Amount of funds raised through solidarity levies and tax justice mechanisms.
   • Distribution of financial contributions based on carbon emissions and financial means.
4. Indicators related to SDG 17:
   • Progress on international agreements and cooperation frameworks (e.g., UN Framework Convention on International Tax Cooperation).
   • Number and effectiveness of global summits and coalitions adopting solidarity levies (FFD4, COP30).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: globalcitizen.org