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 is focused on supporting the World Trade Organization 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.

EU Accepts WTO Deal on Fisheries Subsidies
The European Union, along with other countries, has formally accepted the historic WTO Agreement on Fisheries, which aims to ban subsidies that encourage overfishing.

The Final Countdown: How Canada can end fossil fuel subsidies this year
The conversation on ending fossil fuel subsidies in Canada has been hanging like a dark cloud over the country, with years of pledges failing to lead to concrete action. But the skies may finally clear in the coming months with the release of Canada's long-awaited subsidies framework and policy.
New Research
Fanning the Flames: G20 provides record financial support for fossil fuels
This digital story provides the latest evidence regarding the G20's progress in aligning public financial flows with the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Implementing Solar Irrigation Sustainably
This guidebook provides recommendations to state policy-makers on how they can implement solar irrigation models, particularly decentralized solar plants for irrigation under the PM-KUSUM scheme, effectively and sustainably.
Agrivoltaics in India
This background paper assesses the current state of development of agrivoltaics in India and identifies the challenges and opportunities for its commercialization.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: A Reader's Guide
This guide provides a clear overview of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, explaining succinctly the rules and provisions that the treaty establishes.
Experts

Ivetta Gerasimchuk
Interim Co-Director, Energy & Director, Sustainable Energy

Christopher Beaton
Lead, Sustainable Energy Consumption

Philip Gass
Interim Co-Director, Energy & Lead, Energy Transitions

Alice Tipping
Director, Trade and Sustainable Development

Richard Bridle
Senior Policy Advisor

Anna Geddes
Associate

Tristan Irschlinger
Policy Advisor, Fisheries Subsidies

Tara Laan
Senior Associate

Shruti Sharma
Senior Policy Advisor

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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