Global Subsidies Initiative
IISD’s Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) works with governments and partners to reform subsidies that undermine sustainable development.
Subsidies and other economic incentives shape the world around us. Governments use them to influence what businesses produce and what people consume, making them powerful tools for economic development. When designed well, subsidies can drive social equity and environmental protection. But when misaligned, they can deepen inequalities, degrade ecosystems, and slow the transition to a sustainable future.
New Research
From Subsidies to Sustainability
Examining how agricultural subsidy reform across sub-Saharan African countries can promote soil health, equity, climate resilience, and sustainability.
Mapping India’s Energy Policy 2026
India’s energy subsidies are shifting as demand grows, prices fluctuate, and support moves across electricity, liquefied petroleum gas, transport, and clean energy.
The USD 1.2 Trillion Problem: Why every energy crisis strengthens the case for clean public finance
Public financial flows including subsidies, state-owned enterprise investments, and international public finance remain fundamentally misaligned with climate and energy security goals, and leaving households and businesses vulnerable to global fossil fuel markets, new analysis finds.
Fossil Fuel Subsidies Explained
An overview of fossil fuel subsidies, covering key concepts, impacts on global energy systems, and new trends shaping government support.
How Europe Can Shield Consumers From Oil Price Shocks
With conflict spreading across the Gulf, oil and gas prices are peaking. European governments are looking to protect consumers and energy security.
What Does the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion on Climate Change Mean for Environmentally Harmful Subsidies?
States now have a legal obligation to phase out subsidies that harm the environment. What steps can they take to reduce their legal risk?
Success Stories
Fueling Change: The journey to end fossil fuel subsidies in Canada
How Canada became the first country in the world to introduce a framework for ending government subsidies to domestic oil and gas companies.
A Global Deal to Tackle Harmful Fisheries Subsidies: A look behind the scenes
In June 2022, World Trade Organization members reached a historic deal tackling harmful fisheries subsidies. We unpack how a global campaign by environmental non-governmental organizations and technical policy and legal advice from trade experts in Geneva helped make a difference.
Milestone Reached as WTO Global Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies Enters Into Force
The WTO’s first-ever legally binding agreement on subsidies will enter into force on September 15, 2025—a historic achievement in tackling harmful subsidies at a global scale and advancing ocean sustainability.