Nairobi: Hundreds of volunteers from Greenpeace Africa have staged a powerful demonstration, forming a giant human banner shaped like the African continent with a message, ‘Tax the Super-rich for People and Planet,’ to advocate for urgent tax reforms at the United Nations Tax Convention (UNTC) negotiations.
According to Kenya News Agency, the gathering in Nairobi welcomed discussions at the UNTC aimed at generating additional public finance for climate mitigation, nature protection, and sustainable development. The push is for billionaires and oil and gas corporations to contribute their fair share in taxes. Nina Stros, a policy expert at Greenpeace International and head of the Greenpeace delegation, criticized the current global tax system for being outdated and unjust, allowing the super-rich and polluting corporations to evade paying their fair share while exacerbating the climate crisis through excessive emissions. Stros emphasized the need for governments to commit to strong tax mechanisms targeting these entities.
The third round of UNTC negotiations (INC-3) in Nairobi, scheduled from 10-19 November 2025, is occurring alongside COP30 in Bel©m, Brazil, where nations are debating strategies to bridge the 1.5°C ambition gap and address international climate finance responsibilities. There is an urgent call for concrete plans to fulfill the COP29 finance commitment, which involves mobilizing at least US$300 billion annually by 2035 and scaling up to US$1.3 trillion in public finance.
The UNTC presents a crucial opportunity to unlock necessary public finance by increasing taxes on the ultra-wealthy and enhancing profit taxes on polluting oil and gas corporations. Fred Njehu, Fair Share Global Political Lead at Greenpeace Africa, stressed the urgency for governments to act against the super-rich’s tax evasion and the inadequate taxation of polluting corporations, which deprives the public of vital finances.
Murtala Touray, Programme Director at Greenpeace Africa, highlighted the pivotal moment these tax negotiations represent in addressing systemic inequalities in global finance and governance. The Africa Group’s initiation of this process seeks to establish a legally binding UN tax convention that rectifies these injustices, enabling countries in the Global South to raise revenues for improved public services, climate action, and nature protection.
Current estimates suggest that countries lose US$492 billion annually due to tax evasion by multinational corporations and the wealthy. Profit shifting in extractive industries reportedly costs governments at least US$44 billion per year. Oxfam projects that a permanent polluter profits tax on oil and gas corporations could generate up to US$400 billion in its first year alone.
Greenpeace’s demands for negotiators at INC-3 include effective taxation of High-Net-Worth Individuals, progressive environmental taxation adhering to the polluter pays principle, and the introduction of higher tax rates for billionaires. They advocate directing these revenues toward sustainable development, public service investment, and multilateral climate funds to support vulnerable communities.
Greenpeace is also pushing for a polluter tax on fossil fuel company profits and the taxation of global profits of multinational oil, coal, and gas companies, directing the funds to climate initiatives. A Greenpeace delegation has participated in the first two rounds of global tax talks in New York and will continue their advocacy at INC-3 in Nairobi.
