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Why fossil fuel subsidies are so hard to kill

Fossil-fuel subsidies are one of the biggest financial barriers hampering the world's shift to renewable energy sources. Each year, governments around the world pour around half a trillion dollars into artificially lowering the price of fossil fuels — more than triple what renewables receive. This is despite repeated pledges by politicians to end this kind of support, including statements from the G7 and G20 groups of nations.

IISD in the news October 20, 2021

Fossil fuel production around the world is more than DOUBLE what's currently allowed under the Paris Agreement: Countries are producing over twice the amount of coal and 60% more oil than set by 2015 climate pact

The world needs to cut its production of coal, oil and gas by more than half in the coming decade to even have a chance of meeting strict climate standards established by the 2015 Paris Agreement, according to findings from the United Nations.

IISD in the news October 20, 2021

Les gouvernements misent davantage sur les énergies fossiles (in French)

Un récent rapport du Programme pour l’Environnement de l’ONU révèle l’écart plus important entre la production de combustibles fossiles prévue par 15 pays et les niveaux de production acceptables pour limiter le réchauffement à 1,5°C et 2°C.

IISD in the news October 20, 2021

Fossil-fuel production out of step with net zero: UN report

Countries' plans to produce more fossil fuel is "dangerously out of sync" with limits set out in the Paris Agreement to reduce carbon emissions, warns a new United Nations report.

IISD in the news October 20, 2021

Rich countries to ramp up fossil fuels despite net-zero pledges, says UN

Countries' promises to ditch their dirty habits are far from reality. They're globally projecting to produce twice as much fossil fuels by 2030 than the limit needed to keep global warming below 1.5ºC, according to a UN report released on Wednesday.

IISD in the news October 20, 2021

Big fossil fuel producers' plans far exceed climate targets, U.N. says

Major economies will produce more than double the amount of coal, oil and gas in 2030 than is consistent with meeting climate goals set in the 2015 Paris accord to curb global warming, the United Nations and researchers said on Wednesday.

IISD in the news October 20, 2021

Integrating Gender Considerations in Green Bonds

This brief focuses on how to scale up gender-smart financing through mainstreaming gender considerations in all-new sustainable bond issues.

Brief October 20, 2021

Sustainable Financing for Soil Remediation Projects in China and Beyond

This event showcased the most recent research emerging from IISD's joint project with the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) on financing soil remediation projects.

Webinar October 19, 2021

IGF 17th Annual General Meeting

The 2021 IGF AGM will focus on the theme Building Tomorrow Together: Mining for a Responsible and Inclusive Future.

Conference October 19, 2021

Lab-grown coffee: Why it's good for planet Earth, but not so for farmers in Ethiopia

Scientists in Finland’s VTT Technical Research Centre are developing coffee from cell cultures in a laboratory and say that it has a much lesser climatic impact than regular coffee. The 'eco-friendly' coffee may get regulatory approval in the US and Europe in four years, paving the way for commercialisation of the product.

IISD in the news October 19, 2021

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Why fossil fuel subsidies are so hard to kill

Fossil fuel production around the world is more than DOUBLE what's currently allowed under the Paris Agreement: Countries are producing over twice the amount of coal and 60% more oil than set by 2015 climate pact

Les gouvernements misent davantage sur les énergies fossiles (in French)

Fossil-fuel production out of step with net zero: UN report

Rich countries to ramp up fossil fuels despite net-zero pledges, says UN

Big fossil fuel producers' plans far exceed climate targets, U.N. says

Integrating Gender Considerations in Green Bonds

Sustainable Financing for Soil Remediation Projects in China and Beyond

IGF 17th Annual General Meeting

Lab-grown coffee: Why it's good for planet Earth, but not so for farmers in Ethiopia