New Eco-friendly flight tax

I fully support a carbon-neutral transportation systems. We've waited too long to pay the piper. The time has come for action.

Flying overseas other than for absolute necessity contributes to global warming, plain and simple.

Flying overseas other than for absolute necessity contributes to global warming, plain and simple.

So a plane full of 'necessary' workers creates no pollution?

Seems odd that governments think a tax solves ecology/pollution problems.

Good points Luftmensch, but I think all those things (biking, renewables, etc) would simply get you into Eco-Conscious Heaven. They wouldn't be very useful for calculating how many flights you're allowed. There are too many variables to keep track of, let alone properly weigh.
But why should any of our environmental good deeds entitle us to do environmental bad deeds? All of us here have the time, money and inclination to travel abroad. For the main part our travel is not necessary. If that's bad for the environment (and I think it is), we should bear at least some of the burden for the damage done.
Taxing that travel is okay with me IF it actually did any good. I doubt that additional tax would stop very many of the trips taken by readers here. And, in line with Threadwear's comment, it would surprise me if the agencies collecting the tax actually put that money to use for eco-friendly purposes. Some years back, we Floridians were encouraged to start a state lottery for the purpose of increased funding for education. DIdn't work that way at all once the lottery was approved.

I dont think most governments impose taxes like that to fund eco-friendly efforts. They use the tax money to recover the costs of dealing with the consequences of the environmental damage. Like responding to increased extreme weather events, rebuilding and replacing roads that are more frequently flooded, payouts to farmers for crop losses, replacing dying and diseased trees, etc. The free market system manages to avoid taking those costs into account when pricing goods and services so the governments (taxpayers) have to bear the costs.

That's why travel for enjoyment should be reserved for those who's experience would contribute to the betterment of the world society. There should be a selection process much like the brilliant system of cultural ranking and rewards the Chinese have developed. Until that can be instituted heavy taxing will achieve much of the same results.