Tax the Super Rich: A sustainable future for all!
After the Mouvement Ecologique supported the European citizens’ initiative #TaxTheRich in 2024, this initiative is gaining new momentum in 2025: the focus remains on taxing the “super-rich”, i.e. people with a net wealth of over €100 million, more heavily. The Mouvement Ecologique is participating in the joint campaign of international organisations that are committed to effective taxation of these assets for the benefit of society, democracy and global justice.
The problem of unequal taxation 
The issue of fair taxation of the super-rich has become increasingly urgent in recent years. Growing wealth inequality not only leads to social tensions, but also increasingly threatens democratic principles. While normal households have to pay income tax, inheritance tax or property tax, large fortunes often escape taxation through tax loopholes and complex financial structures. In addition, the lifestyle of the richest 1% exacerbates the climate crisis much more than the average household. Effective taxation of the super-rich is necessary to ensure a fair society, strengthen public finances and collectively tackle the challenges of the 21st century
Why fair taxation is important
The unequal distribution of wealth creates power imbalances that undermine democratic structures. Billionaires can use their wealth to exert political, economic and legal influence, which jeopardises social cohesion. In view of the massive challenges posed by climate change, the debate about taxing the greatest wealth is also unavoidable: While the lifestyles of these individuals have a particularly negative impact on climate change, it is also they who are best placed to escape the consequences. Through their tax evasion, they also prevent the rest of the world’s population from implementing vital measures and the costs of the transition are passed on to broad sections of society.
Proposals from the “TaxTheSuperRich” initiative
- Support global tax reform under the UN: Endorse the UN Tax Convention as an inclusive forum for global tax co-operation and call on G20 members to adopt ambitious and constructive approaches to achieve the agreed goals.
- Tax the ultra-rich and corporations: Lay the foundations for a comprehensive global agreement to raise taxes on the richest 1% to a level that reduces inequality within and between countries. This should be combined with mechanisms to end tax avoidance and measures to enforce a global minimum corporate tax rate that takes into account the location of the actual economic activity of multinational corporations.
- Promote fair distribution of resources: Commit to using revenues from fair taxation to address the most pressing global challenges – including climate action and environmental measures, investment in public services, tackling growing debt and ending extreme poverty and austerity measures that particularly affect women and marginalised groups. Truly progressive policies can generate sufficient revenue for national measures and to fulfil international climate and development commitments.
Global initiative for more tax justice
In view of this situation, new cross-border alliances of organisations from the social, environmental and development policy sectors are emerging – including the Mouvement Ecologique. The aim is to achieve greater tax justice with all its positive consequences through global solidarity and a joint campaign. It is noteworthy that wealthy people are also increasingly supporting such demands, as they also know that global justice is a basic prerequisite for securing social peace.
In the coming weeks, months and probably years, joint actions will therefore be organised and statements adopted time and again.
The finance ministers of the G20 countries, who met in South Africa on 26 and 27 February, were recently called upon to finally take action. The COP 2025 world climate conference in Belém, Brazil, from 10 to 21 November 2025 will also be a particularly important date.
Conclusion
A growing international consensus emphasises the need to tax the super-rich fairly. Without structural changes, social inequality threatens to increase further, which harbours not only economic but also democratic risks. Consistent taxation of wealth could help to reduce the gap between rich and poor and distribute the burden on public budgets more fairly
The additional financial resources will enable our societies to modernise our infrastructure, successfully master the energy transition and also ensure greater justice towards the Global South.
The Mouvement Ecologique supports the international campaign #TaxTheSuperRich (www.taxthesuperrich.world), here you can find the official statement addressed to the G20 economics ministers.
