Laura is an economist working on the social and environmental impacts of fossil fuel subsidies, pricing and their reform. She has expertise in energy policy at the global and national level, particularly in relation to climate change. She manages the Global Subsidies Initiative of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), works alongside the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform, and supports in-country work including in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and Nigeria. She leads on fossil fuel subsidies, communication and the link to climate change and gender impacts.
Previously based in East Africa, Laura worked for Oxfam as a regional coordinator on trade and economic justice. Laura has also worked as an advisor for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and consultant at Oxford Economic Research Associates. She holds an MBA (International Organisations from Université de Genève), MProf (Sustainable Development from Middlesex University) and MA (Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Oxford).
All Publications
- Raising Ambition Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Greenhouse gas emissions results modelling from 26 countries
Report - July 7, 2019
This working paper models 26 countries and finds national average emission reductions of 6 per cent from the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. For every tonne of CO2e removed through FFSR, governments save an average of USD 93. Global emission reductions from reforms are between 6.4 and 8.2 per cent by 2050. Countries can consider the carbon reduction co-benefits from FFSR and taxation within second-generation Nationally Determined Contributions. - One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: Fossil fuel subsidies and reform on the rise
Blog - May 27, 2019
Between 2015 and 2018, 50 countries undertook some level of fossil fuel subsidy reform. That doesn't mean consumer subsidies are decreasing, however. - Women Could Gain Far More With Better Targeting of Government Energy Subsidies, New Research Finds
Blog - March 8, 2019
Millions of dollars worth of fossil fuel subsidies could be better targeted by governments to benefit poor women. - Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Findings from and recommendations for Bangladesh, India and Nigeria
Report - January 29, 2019
This report looks at the impact of subsidies to kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and subsidy reform from a gender perspective across three countries: Bangladesh, India and Nigeria. - Success Stories and a Network on Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform
Blog - January 17, 2019
Many countries and private sector leaders shared fossil fuel subsidy reform success stories at the recent United Nations climate talks in Katowice, Poland. - Getting on Target: Accelerating energy access through fossil fuel subsidy reform
Report - July 17, 2018
How can reforming fossil fuel subsidies accelerate universal energy access (SDG 7)? This paper reviews the financial and practical implications of fossil fuel subsidies for SDG 7. - Better Datasets Urgently Needed To Understand Full Scale of Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Blog - February 16, 2018
Nature magazine recently released a letter detailing how fossil fuel subsidies reform could deliver carbon emission reductions of between 1 and 4 per cent globally by 2030. This is what we think... - The Triple Win. Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Fuel Taxation: Opportunities for governments to save money, fund sustainable development, and reduce GHG emissions
Report - January 21, 2018
The combined impact of fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and an increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxation could do three things: save and raise... - A Guidebook to Reviews of Fossil Fuel Subsidies: From self-reports to peer learning
Guidebook - September 11, 2017
This guidebook provides a step-by-step approach to government reviews of fossil fuel subsidies. The guidebook covers the design of reviews, identification, measurement and evaluation of subsidies, via country case studies and practical tools, as a first step towards transparency and reform. - Scaling Up Green Energy Finance Swapping Fossil Fuel Subsidies for Sustainable Energy Solutions
Video - May 16, 2017
This video by IISD Reporting Services provides an overview of the Bonn side event hosted by GSI, "Scaling Up Green Energy Finance: Swapping Fossil Fuel Subsidies for Sustainable Energy Solutions.". The event focused on how governments can scale up investments in green energy by “making the switch” from fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energy subsidies. - Making the Switch: From fossil fuel subsidies to sustainable energy
Report - May 11, 2017
This report estimates fossil fuel subsidies to be around USD 425 billion. Such subsidies represent large lost opportunities for governments to invest in renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable development. - Zombie Energy: Climate benefits of ending subsidies to fossil fuel production
Paper - February 10, 2017
This working paper explains how different production subsidies currently unlock “zombie energy” from fossil fuel deposits that would not be commercially viable to produce without government support. It also presents new modelling of the global removal of certain subsidies to fossil fuel production. - Learning from Leaders: Nordic and International Best Practice with Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform
Report - November 16, 2016
This report describes how Ethiopia, Morocco, Peru and the Philippines have reformed their subsidies. It also describes how countries including Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden have introduced innovative policy instruments to encourage switching towards renewable and sustainable energy. - Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Current status of research
Report - September 27, 2016
Little is known about the gender differentiated impacts of fossil fuel subsidy reforms. This review takes stock of existing knowledge, identifies knowledge gaps and sets out plans for future research in this area. - Building on Momentum: Recommendations from the GSI for Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform at the G20
Policy Brief - June 27, 2016
This policy brief examines the progress made to phase-out inefficient and wasteful fossil fuel subsidies, the increasing momentum behind subsidy reform in international processes and the steps needed to ensure that the commitment is met. - Financing Adaptation and Resilience Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Fuel Duty
Video - May 24, 2016
On Tuesday, 24 May 2016, the event “Financing Adaptation and Resilience Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Fuel Duty” took place in Bonn, Germany. - Fiscal Instruments in INDCs: How countries are looking to fiscal policies to support INDC implementation
Paper - December 19, 2015
Countries are increasingly turning to the use of fiscal instruments to support low-carbon development and efforts to reduce emissions. - Tackling Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Climate Change: Levelling the energy playing field
Paper - October 21, 2015
Subsidies for the consuption of fossil fuels were estimated at US$550 billion in 2013, according to the International Energy Agency. - Fossil fuel subsidy reform – turning the tide?
Blog - August 6, 2015
The recent announcement from UAE that it will reform domestic fossil fuel subsidies is the latest in a growing number of countries taking the opportunity to reform subsidies within the energy sector. - GHG Emissions Reductions and Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform: Measurement and inclusion within INDCs
Video - June 17, 2015
This 4 ½-minute video covers the links between fossil fuel subsidies, climate change and greenhouse gas emission reductions.Speakers address how... - Maximizing Contributions to Emission Mitigation from Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform
Video - March 6, 2015
This short five-minute video covers the issues around the link between fossil-fuel subsidies, climate change and links to the UNFCCC. - Fossil-Fuel Subsidies and Climate Change: Options for policy-makers within their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions
Paper - January 6, 2015
This paper reviews international models of fossil-fuel subsidy reform and greenhouse gas emissions to support parties to the United Nations... - Reform of Fossil-fuel Subsidies—Nordic Cooperation on fossil-fuel subsidy reform in developing countries: Assessing options and opportunities
Paper - October 23, 2014
Fossil-fuel subsidies matter.They matter for sustainable development; they matter for government budgets; they matter for the poor who benefit very... - Financing the Sustainable Development Goals Through Fossil-fuel Subsidy Reform: Opportunities in Southeast Asia, India and China
Paper - October 10, 2014
This report from the Global Subsidies Initiative of IISD was launched in conjunction with the Asia Europe Foundation, at a conference exploring the... - Fossil-fuel Subsidies: Building a Network for Action
Video - September 12, 2014
This five minute video investigates the issues for civil society organizations from fossil-fuel subsidies and their reform.Speakers include Damon... - Power, Gender and Fossil-fuel Subsidy Reform in India
Paper - July 11, 2014
This paper explores the link between fossil-fuel subsidies and gender in India.It focuses on the likely gender impacts of reform across cooking,...