Prioritizing Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform in the UNFCCC Process: Recommendations for short-term actions

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that fossil-fuel subsidy reform is a ready-to-deploy measure that can help UNFCCC Parties increase pre-2020 mitigation ambition to limit global temperature rise to 2°C. It provides specific recommendations for Parties to integrate subsidy reform into UNFCCC workstreams, national actions, and reporting mechanisms.

• Fossil-fuel subsidy reform is identified as a tool that can significantly assist UNFCCC Parties in increasing pre-2020 mitigation ambition to ensure average temperatures do not rise more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels, noting that the measure is available for immediate deployment.
• The GSI recommends several short-term actions for UNFCCC Parties to advance fossil-fuel subsidy reform, including proposing options under Workstream 2 in submissions to the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP), developing reform as a nationally appropriate mitigation action (NAMA), and requesting that the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) address methodological issues.
• The brief suggests including fossil-fuel subsidy reform on the agenda for the proposed ministerial meeting on energy efficiency and renewable energy at COP 19 in Warsaw to highlight its role in reducing barriers to the deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and encourages voluntary reporting on subsidies in national and biennial reports.

APA

Lang,, P. W. B. (2013). Prioritizing Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform in the UNFCCC Process: Recommendations for short-term actions. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/prioritizing-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-unfccc-process-recommendations-short

Chicago

Lang,, Peter Wooders,Virginia Benninghoff,Kerryn. Prioritizing Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform in the UNFCCC Process: Recommendations for short-term actions. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2013. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/prioritizing-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-unfccc-process-recommendations-short.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lang, |first1=Peter Wooders,Virginia Benninghoff,Kerryn |title=Prioritizing Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform in the UNFCCC Process: Recommendations for short-term actions |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=17 August 2013 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/prioritizing-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-unfccc-process-recommendations-short |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lang2013prioritizing, author = {Lang,, Peter Wooders,Virginia Benninghoff,Kerryn}, title = {{Prioritizing Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform in the UNFCCC Process: Recommendations for short-term actions}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/prioritizing-fossil-fuel-subsidy-reform-unfccc-process-recommendations-short}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }