Subsidies
With over 10 years of experience, the IISD Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) is widely recognized as a world-class leader in the quantification, evaluation, and reform of subsidies.
Governments around the world spend at least a trillion dollars a year on subsidies to exploit the world's natural resources. But faced with increasing fiscal constraints, and concerned about making their economies cleaner, more inclusive, and stable, governments are under increasing pressure to change course.
GSI works closely with governments to help them move away from subsidies that hinder sustainability. The goal is to encourage individual governments to undertake unilateral reforms on subsidy policy where these would deliver clear economic, environmental, and social benefits. GSI also aims to generate a consensus in the World Trade Organization and in other forums on the need to take resolute, ongoing, and systematic action to reduce or eliminate subsidies that are trade-distorting and undermine sustainable development.
Related projects
Global Subsidies Initiative
GSI programs and research place a spotlight on fossil fuel subsidies and the corrosive effect they have on economic development, governance and environmental quality.
Fossil Fuel Subsidy Tracker
Explore the latest global fossil fuel subsidy estimates from all major sources in one interactive database.
Fisheries Subsidies
IISD works to support the WTO negotiations to end harmful fisheries subsidies.
Articles
Unpacking Canada's Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Canada committed to phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies 10 years ago—but even after a decade there are still large subsidies to fossil fuel production.
What the G7 Ministerial Could Have Delivered on Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform
The G7 climate, energy, and environment ministers’ meeting in Turin fell short when it came to breaking the 15 years of gridlock on fossil fuel subsidies. Here are three ways the G7 can use their next meetings to demonstrate measurable progress.
Fisheries Subsidies: Will World Trade Organization members finish the job at MC13?
Tristan Irschlinger traces the future of the landmark fisheries subsidies agreement at the WTO by envisioning broader rules, managing the involvement of the largest players, and creating flexibilities for developing countries.
New Research
World Trade Organization Talks on Subsidies that Contribute to Overcapacity and Overfishing: What's on the table?
World governments are currently negotiating new global disciplines to curb harmful fisheries subsidies. What new rules are being proposed?
Blackouts and Backsliding: Energy subsidies in South Africa 2023
Blackouts and Backsliding presents the latest energy subsidy data for South Africa.
Mapping India's Energy Policy 2023
Mapping India's Energy Policy 2023 is the latest publication in a series of annual updates on government support for energy in India that includes critical data on energy subsidies and taxation.
Burning Billions: Record public money for fossil fuels impeding climate action
This briefing provides the latest evidence on how the world is aligning public financial flows with the need to reduce GHG emissions.
Experts
Ivetta Gerasimchuk
Director, Energy Program, International Strategy
Christopher Beaton
Director, Energy Program, Public Financial Flows
Philip Gass
Director, Energy Program, Just Transitions and Canada
Alice Tipping
Director, Trade and Sustainable Development
Richard Bridle
Senior Policy Advisor
Anna Geddes
Associate
Tristan Irschlinger
Senior Policy Advisor I, Fisheries Subsidies
Tara Laan
Senior Associate
Shruti Sharma
Lead
Anissa Suharsono
Associate
Vibhuti Garg
Associate and Senior Energy Specialist
Ronald Steenblik
Senior Fellow
Tom Moerenhout
Associate
Andrea Bassi
Senior Associate
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