Quakers call for tougher taxes on oil and gas to tackle climate crisis
Quakers in Britain have urged the UK Government to go beyond the current windfall tax and take stronger action on oil and gas companies.
In a submission to the Treasury's consultation on oil and gas price mechanisms, Quakers said the Government should tax polluting activities, not just profits.
They believe using these important financial levers would help deliver a sustainable economy and transform the UK into a clean energy superpower.
The submission states: “This should go beyond simply taxing 'excess profits' so that the polluting activities of oil and gas companies are taxed, whether or not they are profitable."
They warned that climate change is creating risks for the whole economy with insurance leaders reporting that parts of the world are becoming uninsurable.
Quakers said taxing pollution could reduce this risk and bring greater energy stability while also addressing historical responsibility for emissions.
The faith group, part of the Make Polluters Pay campaign, supports several tax reforms, including:
- A Climate Damages Tax on fossil fuel extraction, raising £20 billion over 10 years
- Ending subsidies for North Sea oil and gas, freeing £2.2 billion a year
- A 2 per cent tax on wealth over £10 million, raising £24 billion a year
- Joining global efforts to fund climate action through solidarity levies
The submission highlights strong public backing for these changes.
Recent polls show 71 per cent of UK adults support higher taxes on the wealthy, and the same number of Reform-leaning voters support taxing big polluters.
The Quakers praised the Government's aim to close tax loopholes. But they said current plans do not go far enough.
The submission concludes: “Just focussing on taxing unusually high profits will simply be tinkering with a broken system. What we need is transformation."
Paul Parker, recording clerk for Quakers in Britain, said: “As Quakers, we are called to live in right relationship with the earth and one another.
“Fair and purposeful taxation is one way we can turn our values into action and build a more just, sustainable world."