Experts Call on G7 to Get Serious on Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform

April 16, 2024 — At a press conference in Rome on Tuesday, Italian Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin set out the agenda for G7 climate, energy, and environment ministerial meetings April 28-30.

"In continuity with the commitments undertaken in the G7 and G20 spheres, the Italian Presidency will be consolidating the initiatives already underway and focusing on targeted, joint actions geared to concreteness," said Minister Pichetto Fratin. "We want to give a strong push to the development of renewables and broaden our horizons to all sources that, with scientific support, can guarantee us energy security, contributing to the achievement of environmental objectives."

This must include action to tackle persistent public financial support to coal, oil, and gas, say experts at the International Institute for Sustainable Development. G7 countries have committed every year since 2009 to eliminate “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies. In 2016, they added a deadline: by 2025. Yet, without a serious focus on fossil fuel subsidy reform at G7 ministerial meetings on April 28–30, the bloc will miss this target. For the latest year full data are available, 2022, fossil fuel subsidies across G7 countries hit an all-time high of USD 199.1 billion. This followed a global trend, as oil and gas prices spiked after Russia invaded Ukraine, and governments moved to shield consumers from bill hikes.

Support for clean energy must, therefore, be coupled with moving away from coal, oil, and gas, IISD experts say. Countries agreed at COP 28 in Dubai in December to transition away from fossil fuels. Scenario analysis shows there is no room for new coal, oil, or gas under a 1.5°C global warming limit.

“The surest path to energy security is to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets,” says Farooq Ullah, senior policy advisor at IISD. “G7 governments need to stop throwing money at climate-polluting sectors and mobilize investment to scale up clean energy systems.”

G7 communiques to date include the caveat that governments need only eliminate “inefficient” fossil fuel subsidies. This has never been defined. The ambiguity allows governments to claim they are complying with the commitment while continuing to put money into the pockets of the coal, oil, and gas industries. IISD is calling on the G7 to tighten up the language and change the defaults.

“At this month’s G7 meetings, ministers need to close the loopholes and show they are serious about tackling fossil fuel subsidies,” says Jonas Kuehl, policy analyst at IISD. “Any exceptions to the rule need to be clearly justified and temporary while alternative non-fossil subsidy solutions are developed.”

Notes to editors:

1. Webcast of press conference
2. Burning Billions: Record public money for fossil fuels impeding climate action
3. Navigating Energy Transitions

Media Contact

Megan Darby, senior communications officer, IISD: [email protected]