Weekly Action - 7 November 2024 - G20 & UN Tax Talks
Take action for a global tax agreement to generate billions to help tackle poverty and climate change.
G20 & UN Tax Talks
This month the leaders of the world’s most powerful G20 nations will be meeting in Brazil from Monday 18 – Tuesday 19 November. One of the items on the agenda will be making progress toward a shared common standard on taxing wealth. Elsewhere at the UN, negotiations are progressing this month on a forthcoming UN Tax Convention, ahead of substantive talks beginning in January. A global tax agreement would dramatically increase tax transparency and take major strides towards taxing extreme wealth, preventing tax avoidance and tackling tax havens around the world, which it is estimated will otherwise cost nations $5 trillion in lost tax over the next decade. That is money that is desperately needed, especially in the world’s poorest developing countries, to provide essential services like education and healthcare. This week, as part of our 4 Shifts campaign, Arise is supporting the JustMoney Movement in a key campaign action calling on the UK government to make major progress on global standards for taxing extreme wealth at the G20 and the UN Tax Convention negotiations.
Tax in the Bible
The Bible is incredibly clear that society must care for the most vulnerable. God instructs his people, “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land” (Deut 15: 11). But how can this be paid for? The Biblical model is that this should be funded by a pooled contribution from all in society, what we would call tax. For instance we read in Deuteronomy, “At the end of every three years, bring all the tithes of that year’s produce and store it in your towns, so that the Levites (who have no allotment or inheritance of their own) and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows who live in your towns may come and eat and be satisfied, and so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands” (Deut 14: 28 – 29). And as Paul says in his letter to the Romans, “Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes” (Roms 13: 5 – 7). Collecting tax in order to meet the needs of the poorest and most marginalised in society, and to pay the costs of government, is a deeply Biblical concept (4 Shifts Report, pg 61 – 64).
The need for global tax agreements
In today’s globalised world it is harder and harder for nations to implement effective tax regimes, as money and investment simply flows across borders to lower taxed and regulated nations, resulting in a race to the bottom. Nations are forced to offer ever lower levels of taxation in order to attract investment, thus undermining their ability to collect and use public finance, which has played such a huge role in every country that has successfully developed. That is why the world needs a global tax and social spending agreement, to increase tax transparency and clamp down on tax avoidance, but also to set agreed tax levels, thus preventing a race to the bottom and ensuring every nation benefits. Through our 4 Shifts Campaign Arise is calling for a global agreement where every nation commits to collect tax at an amount equivalent to at least 45% of the national economy (one third from income taxes, one third from wealth taxes and one third from other taxes). At least two thirds of this should be spent on healthcare, education and social protection. National laws should be brought in to implement this global agreement in every nation. All the strongest academic and economic evidence indicates that these are the kinds of levels that are needed for any modern state to provide the basic services necessary to care for all its citizens.
Will you take action this week to call for a global agreement on the taxation of extreme wealth, to release billions to benefit ordinary people, and the poorest communities around the world?
Take Action
Speak out in advocacy
Follow the link to the JustMoney Movement website and take action to write to, or meet with, your MP to call for the UK government to make major progress towards a global tax agreement at the G20 and the UN.
Pray
A global tax agreement is an idea whose time has come. Pray for national leaders and governments as they meet at the G20 and the UN. Pray that there will be a spirit of cooperation and coordination, and major strides will be taken to agree universal levels of taxation and social spending, something which would benefit every nation.
Give
Give to Christian organisations like the JustMoney Movement, who are doing brilliant work calling for a fairer more ethical financial system and economy, based on Biblical standards.
Practical Action
Play our part by ensuring we always pay our taxes in full and don’t practice tax avoidance.
Ethical Consumption
Support fair global taxation through buying goods and services from companies that pay a fair share of tax wherever possible. Check out the Ethical Consumer website for guidance on this, or do your own research online.
Find out more
Latest news – Updates on previous campaigns and latest news from the Arise movement.
Join a local Arise group in your church or area – It’s great to take this action as individual Christians, but even better to come together with others to pray, discuss, worship, learn, have fun and take action together. Contact Arise if you are interested.
Arise Manifesto – Find out more about this week’s action in the Arise Manifesto, Arise’s big picture, researched, Biblical, holistic and practical vision for a better world.
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