London Climate Action Week | Avoiding a Zombie Recovery: Public money for clean energy, not for fossil fuels

EnergyPolicyTracker.org is a project by over 20 independent research organisations tracking public money commitments for both clean energy and fossil fuels in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

As of October 14, 2020, economic sectors responsible for production and consumption of fossil fuels received 52% of the public money commitments researchers tracked in the G20 and seven other countries. In other words, most governments have just continued what they were doing pre-pandemic, despite the Paris Agreement commitments: propping up zombie fossil fuel projects that would not be viable without their support.

But it’s still not too late to tip the balance toward a greener recovery.

That’s why, as part of London Climate Action Week, the Energy Policy Tracker partner organizations and their invitees will run an interactive session to respond to the following questions posed by the moderator:

Which G20 governments have achieved the most progress in phasing out support to fossil fuels, and what made it possible?
What are the most inspiring green recovery initiatives in the global North and South?
Do “green strings” work for bailing out fossil fuel projects?
How can public finance support green recovery in emerging and developing economies?

Moderator: Ivetta Gerasimchuk, International Institute for Sustainable Development

Panellists:

Mattias Frumerie, Ministry of Environment of Sweden
Tom Moerenhout, Columbia University
Anna Geddes, International Institute for Sustainable Development
Kanika Chawla, Council on Energy, Environment and Water
Elisa Arond, Stockholm Environment Institute
Laurie van der Burg, Oil Change International

Watch the full recording of this session