Make Them Pay
UK/International (2022)

“It is unacceptable that the super-rich continue criss-crossing around the world while millions are suffering from disastrous climate impacts.”

On the 10th of November 2022, as part of an international day of action targeting private jet airports in 11 countries to coincide with COP27 in Egypt, activists protested at Farnborough and Luton private jet facilities near London. The action, which demanded the end of private jet travel, a frequent flying levy and accountability for polluters, highlighted the disproportionate climate impact of the super-rich. The campaign aimed to expose the injustice of tax breaks and environmental privileges for private jet users, emphasising the need for aviation tax reforms to fund climate reparations for the Global South.

Timing

  • This action was strategically timed to coincide with COP27, where activists sought to bring attention to demands from climate-vulnerable countries for Loss & Damage funding and emissions reductions from wealthier nations.
  • The protest highlighted the campaign’s core demands to ban private jets, tax frequent flyers and make polluters pay, aiming to address the outsized responsibility of high-emission lifestyles for climate inequality.

Location

  • The protest targeted Farnborough and Luton airports, two major private jet hubs near London. These locations were chosen due to their high traffic of private jets and the accessibility for local activists.
  • This choice of locations helped underscore the disparities in emissions responsibility, reinforcing the need for policy changes addressing the environmental impact of luxury travel.

Type of Action

  • The action was a civil disobedience event involving around 30 activists who blocked road entrances to the airports, wearing lab coats and business suits to symbolise scientists and wealthy businesspeople. They carried banners and signs to communicate the campaign’s core demands.
  • The event was organised on a medium budget of £1,000, covering logistical expenses, signage, and media materials. Global coordination spanned several months, with local meetings focused on refining logistics and messaging.
  • The tactics combined a direct-action blockade with media outreach, utilising consistent visuals and messaging to connect the UK protests to the broader international movement.

Insights

  • The campaign’s framing around wealth inequity of private jet use and tax breaks for the wealthy resonated strongly with the public, sparking discussion and increasing awareness of the broader issue of emissions inequality, and pushing for the aviation sector to contribute to Loss & Damage finance for Global South countries.
  • Coordinated actions in 11 countries with consistent messaging created a powerful sense of solidarity and visually impactful media, linking climate justice movements across borders.

Obstacles

  • Coordinating a global organising team was challenging, as much of the burden fell on local organisers who also had to manage their specific actions. This resulted in last-minute work on press releases and a delayed agreement on branding and messaging.
  • Recruiting local groups to take part inlater actions was also difficult, as momentum fizzled after the initial wave, with not all targeted areas able to mobilise as planned.

Strengths

  • The global nature of the action was its greatest strength, with 11 countries and around 20 actions in total. The sense of solidarity across borders, as actions took place sequentially around the world, inspired camaraderie and boosted morale.
  • Media outreach was a success, with coverage from major outlets like the BBC, The Guardian, and the New York Times. The target—private jets—also resonated with the public, sparking largely positive responses on social media.

Lessons learned

  • Messaging and coordination should be finalised well in advance to avoid last-minute debates. Inclusive meetings to review the campaign’s narrative, aims, and demands are crucial for ensuring everyone is aligned.
  • A dedicated global coordination team is necessary to bring the actions together logistically, allowing local teams to focus on their specific actions, movement-building, and tactics.
  • Roles should be clearly distributed (media, messaging, outreach, logistics), and each action should have a designated photographer/videographer who is solely responsible for capturing footage. Ensuring media content is uploaded and shared efficiently is also critical.
  • Importance of building a movement that grows beyond a single action: websites, mailing lists and social media groups are essential to maintaining momentum and growing membership. The first action is just a stepping stone toward mass mobilisation and a strong infrastructure is necessary to capitalise on initial success and attract more participants for future actions.