The foundations of modern tax systems were laid down in the era of the industrial revolution: before globalisation and mass consumption, before the emergence of climate disruption and water supply risks, and before digitisation, automation and robotisation. Considering today’s fast-changing world, tax systems will need to adapt.

Just as we now see our planet as an interconnected system, we must take a fresh look at our tax systems as a whole. Specific tax measures, such as a carbon tax, landfill levies or taxes on single-use plastic, may help but they are no longer enough. In order to craft a tax system that is fit for the 21st century, it is necessary to think more widely about what governments should be taxing, and how the tax revenues should be used.

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), which recently issued its report called Tax as a force for good: Rebalancing our tax systems to support a global economy fit for the future,  and Deloitte are delighted to invite you to a lively debate  to explore how shifting tax from labour to natural resource use, pollution and consumption could help meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an inclusive, circular economy.