Curb Petrochemicals to Unlock a Full Fossil Fuel Phaseout

The report examines how the petrochemical industry serves as a 'Plan B' for fossil fuel companies, creating physical and economic lock-in that threatens global decarbonization efforts. It highlights the rapid growth of plastics and ammonia production, the environmental and health costs of these chemicals, and the use of 'transition narratives' to justify new fossil infrastructure. The authors propose five strategic levers—financial strain, market uncertainty, greenwashing, human health impacts, and just transition frameworks—to curb this expansion and enable a full fossil fuel phaseout.

• The fossil fuel industry is using petrochemicals as a deliberate contingency strategy to remain relevant as the world transitions away from burning fossil fuels for energy and transport.
• Significant physical lock-in is being created through a massive build-out of infrastructure, including an estimated 127 polyethylene projects expected to come online between 2025 and 2030 and 47 planned coal-to-chemicals projects globally.
• The petrochemical industry contributes substantially to global emissions; production is directly responsible for 4% of global emissions, rising to 10% when including inputs, while plastic waste incineration adds further carbon dioxide.
• Industry actors use 'transition narratives' to frame fossil-based products as solutions, such as promoting 'blue ammonia' as a shipping fuel or ammonia co-firing in coal plants to delay the retirement of coal-fired power stations.
• The report identifies five strategic levers to limit petrochemical expansion: leveraging financial strain from overcapacity, challenging the uncertain market for ammonia, discrediting greenwashing, highlighting massive human health costs, and implementing a just transition that reimagines food systems.

APA

Feit, S., & Alvarès, D. L. (2026). Curb Petrochemicals to Unlock a Full Fossil Fuel Phaseout. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Curb-Petrochemicals-to-Unlock-Fossil-Fuel-Phaseout.pdf

Chicago

Feit, Steven, and Delphine Lévi Alvarès. Curb Petrochemicals to Unlock a Full Fossil Fuel Phaseout. Center for International Environmental Law, 2026. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Curb-Petrochemicals-to-Unlock-Fossil-Fuel-Phaseout.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Feit |first1=Steven |last2=Alvarès |first2=Delphine Lévi |title=Curb Petrochemicals to Unlock a Full Fossil Fuel Phaseout |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=March 2026 |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Curb-Petrochemicals-to-Unlock-Fossil-Fuel-Phaseout.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{feit2026curb, author = {Feit, Steven and Alvarès, Delphine Lévi}, title = {{Curb Petrochemicals to Unlock a Full Fossil Fuel Phaseout}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2026}, month = mar, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Curb-Petrochemicals-to-Unlock-Fossil-Fuel-Phaseout.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }