Fossil Fuel Subsidies Hamper Pathway to Inclusive Green Economy, Experts Say

Nairobi, 28 April 2014 – Fossil fuel subsidies are contributing to fiscal instability and undermining governments’ efforts to combat serious economic and environmental challenges, such as climate change, and the transition to an inclusive green economy, according to experts.

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“Reforming Fossil Fuel Subsidies for an Inclusive Green Economy” is the theme of the two-day event co-organized by UNEP, IMF, GIZ and the Global Subsidies Initiative of IISD. Sessions will focus on how fiscal policies can address the perverse effects of fossil fuel subsidies and strengthen government spending for sustainable development.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently reported that CO₂ emissions from fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes were responsible for approximately 78 per cent of the total increase in greenhouse gas emissions between 1970 and 2010.

Experts say reducing or eliminating harmful fossil fuel subsidies – and properly pricing energy to account for environmental impacts – is one of the most promising ways governments can promote a transition to a greener economy, and even the playing field for investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Subsidies to producers often support inefficient state-owned energy companies and stifle incentives for greater efficiencies and innovation, while subsidies to consumers often encourage excessive consumption, which has knock-on effects for pollution, human health and greenhouse gas emissions.

Globally, fossil fuel subsidies are estimated to be in the range of US$500 billion. When taking into account implicit subsidies from the failure to charge for pollution, climate change and other externalities, the IMF estimates the post-tax subsidy figure is closer to $2 trillion worldwide – equivalent to about 2.9 per cent of global GDP, or 8.5 per cent of government revenues. Furthermore, it finds the removal of such subsidies could lead to a 13 per cent decline in CO₂ emissions.

In comparison, according to the International Energy Agency, global subsidies to the renewable energy industry were $88 billion in 2011.

“Fiscal policies are of particular importance in a green economy transition. Confronted by a fiscally constrained world, government reforms might appear to be a daunting challenge,” said UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.

“However, it is important to note that fossil fuel subsidies cost countries precious funds. For example, they divert government resources from pro-poor spending in Africa, where governments spend an estimated 3 per cent of GDP – equivalent to their total health care allocation – on fossil fuel subsidies,” he added.

Several countries, including Ghana, Namibia, the Philippines and Turkey, have all shown that it is possible to reform energy subsidies and prices. UNEP is currently undertaking green economy fiscal policy studies in several countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Mauritius, which will inform the respective governments as they advance their fiscal policy reforms.

Experts are calling on governments to use government policies to leverage private investment in green sectors by redirecting public investments to clean technologies and providing direct public expenditure for research and development. For example, tax incentives could make investments in clean technologies more attractive, while government funds could reduce the risk profile of capital intensive new technologies.

In addition, experts acknowledge that, in some cases, eliminating these subsidies could have ramifications on the poor or weaken the competitiveness of domestic industries. Therefore, they said, social protection measures are needed to ensure vulnerable groups are not overlooked and receive assistance during a transition period.

Note to editors:

The landmark meeting entitled, Reforming Fossil Fuel Subsidies for an Inclusive Green Economy, is taking place on 28-29 April 2014, in Conference Room 3 at the UN’s Gigiri Complex in Nairobi, Kenya.

It is jointly organized by UNEP, IMF, GIZ and Global Subsidies Initiative (GSI) of IISD.

About 80 participants are expected to attend, including government officials from ministries of finance, energy and environment; international and regional organizations; academic institutions; NGOs and local UN missions.

The purpose of the workshop is to provide a better understanding of the scale of fossil fuel subsidies and their potential for reform, links to green investment, and policies that support the production and use of fossil fuels, as well as to share countries’ experiences.

This is the second workshop that UNEP is co-organizing with IMF and GIZ, the first having taken place in October 2012 in Geneva. This year, GSI joined as a co-organizer, and the European Commission also contributed funding for the event.

Watch a video about this conference here

For more information, contact: unepnewsdesk@unep.org