These findings should be of interest to policy makers considering or implementing reforms to
fossil fuel subsidies as well as readers following developments in global and regional energy markets.
Local produce would be competitive if not
for fossil fuel subsidies and the fact that climate change damages and costs, due to fossil fuels, are also borne by the public.
The first thing you can do is eliminating the existing harmful subsidies,
especially fossil fuel subsidies, which was voted as the number one issue during the civil society dialogue.
The elimination
of fossil fuel subsidies was one, as was the expansion of social protection programmes, a huge expansion of the global network of protected marine areas, etc..
He said the lower oil price might spur the use of fossil fuels but could also make it «more politically palatable» for some countries to
cut fossil fuel subsidies.
«Current subsidies to
fossil fuel subsidies from governments are worth around half the funding needed to bridge the global energy access gap, double renewable energy and energy efficiency rates by 2030,» said Laura Merrill, Senior Researcher and Operations Manager with IISD.
'' study published by the Environmental Law Institute in September 2009 cites about $ 72 billion in
fossil fuels subsidies over the seven years ripe for budget cuts.
This failure to consider the real - world effects of
fossil fuel subsidies at the national level shows up not only in the IIASA study's findings, but also in some of the commentary from the authors that surrounded its release.
A new report from the Nordic Council of Ministers finds that redirecting
fossil fuel subsidies toward the clean energy transition could help climate vulnerable countries reap major savings while slashing greenhouse gas emissions.
What we know from reading the actual findings of this study, as well as several other analyses on the climate impacts of
fossil fuel subsidy removal, is that nixing oil, gas, and coal subsidies would be a big win for the climate, would save money, and could free up financial resources to help the poorest and most vulnerable.
For more information on
G20 fossil fuel subsidies, including public finance, read Oil Change International and Overseas Development Institute's report: Empty Promises: G20 Subsidies to Oil, Gas, and Coal Production
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA)
fossil fuel subsidies rose by nearly $ 100 billion in the last year alone, from $ 312 billion in 2009 to $ 409 billion in 2010.
Hakima El Haite, Environment Minister of Morocco, candidate for the presidency of COP22, said: «Not only
do fossil fuel subsidies put a strain on government coffers but they also don't help the poorest of society.»
In 3 legislative files currently negotiated in Brussels the European Parliament progressed on financing matters: reporting on
Fossil Fuel Subsidies phase - out; the linking the EU budget comes to national climate ambitions; a climate impact assessment tool for EU investments; and a 40 % climate earmarking target for the Juncker Investment Plan.
While the ongoing Fijian COP23 in Bonn and the coalition negotiations in Berlin capture media and public attention, Germany quietly released a self - review of their
own fossil fuel subsidies as part of the G20 peer review process.
On the other side, the agency predicts that by 2035, renewable subsidies will jump by four times hitting $ 250 billion annually, though this is still well below
current fossil fuel subsidies at $ 409 billion.
This study shows the scale of the problem with the EU providing an annual average of $ 4bn in
fossil fuel subsidies through its budget, development and investment banks and funds.
Although there are uncertainties in reserves and resources,
ongoing fossil fuel subsidies and continuing technological advances ensure that more and more of these fuels will be economically recoverable.
Most recently, World Bank president Jim Yong Kim emphasized that «we need to get rid of
fossil fuel subsidies now» in his agenda for promoting clean energy.
Later this week, I will work with my colleagues at the G - 20 to phase out
fossil fuel subsidies so that we can better address our climate challenge.
The Obama Administration's self - assessment identified $ 8.2 billion in
U.S. fossil fuel subsidies / incentives, categorizing $ 4.8 billion as inefficient.
Phrases with «fossil fuel subsidies»