Léa Renault
Chloé Sublet
We were born at opposite ends of France. One of us grew up in Provence, in the south, the other in Hauts-de-France, in the north. Different regions, different realities — but the same questions about justice, responsibility, and the future we want to live in. Our paths eventually crossed in Paris, where we became friends through our shared work in communications and our shared values.
Like many people of our generation, we already knew climate change was serious. Over time, what became clearer to us was not only the scale of the crisis, but how deeply unfair it is: those who contributed the least are paying the highest price, while those who profit the most are still largely protected. This understanding made joining the Tax Their Billions campaign, led by 350.org, a natural and necessary next step in our journeys.
In France, we keep seeing the same pattern. Climate policies postponed. Budgets for environmental action shrinking. Public debate drifting toward false priorities. Meanwhile, the impacts of the climate crisis are right in front of us. Heatwaves start earlier and last longer every year, and some of our families are increasingly vulnerable to extreme temperatures. Many people struggle with rising energy prices in poorly insulated homes, making both heat and cold harder to endure. Inequality decides who can adapt — and who cannot.
For us, acting meant showing up. We strongly believe in “think global, act local,” and that’s how we found our place in the movement together with 350.org. Being in the streets in community changed everything. We joined the “Back to School” action in front of the National Assembly in September 2024, the powerful “Tax me. I’m rich” action in front of the Senate in June 2025, and the Paris Draw the Line march in September 2025. These weren’t isolated moments; they were part of a growing, shared push for accountability.
Chloé and Léa at Draw the Line action in Paris, September 2025
Through these mobilizations, one thing became impossible to ignore: we cannot fund a just climate transition by putting the burden on ordinary people. Middle and lower-income households are stretched thin while extreme wealth keeps growing — along with the emissions tied to it. Tax Their Billions names this injustice clearly and directly. Asking billionaires to pay their fair share is not radical. It is common sense.
In France, this idea was long dismissed as unrealistic. But the Tax Their Billions campaign helped change public opinion. Backed by solid research, clear data, and visible actions, taxing extreme wealth became a serious national debate. Even when proposals like the Zucman tax were blocked, the momentum didn’t disappear. The conversation shifted, and that shift matters.
For us, Tax Their Billions is a continuation — of our values, our actions, and our belief that climate justice will only be possible when responsibility is finally placed where it belongs. We know this work is long-term, with setbacks along the way. But step by step, action by action, we are helping move the lines of what is considered possible.