Step Off the Gas: International public finance, natural gas and clean alternatives in the Global South

The report finds that gas projects in low- and middle-income countries receive four times more international public finance than wind or solar, despite renewable alternatives being cheaper or expected to be soon. It argues that gas expansion is inconsistent with IPCC 1.5°C scenarios, which project a 55% decline in global gas consumption by 2050. Through case studies of Argentina, Egypt, and India, the report highlights risks such as asset stranding and debt, recommending that international public finance cease supporting fossil fuels and instead focus on enabling renewable energy systems.

• International public finance is disproportionately allocated to natural gas in low- and middle-income countries, receiving four times the funding provided to wind or solar energy.
• Expanding natural gas infrastructure contradicts the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1.5°C scenarios, which forecast a 55% reduction in global gas consumption and an 87% reduction in unabated gas power generation between 2020 and 2050.
• Renewable-based alternatives are already cheaper or will be shortly for most gas uses, including the provision of clean cooking via renewable electricity and efficient electric devices.
• Case studies reveal specific risks in emerging economies: Argentina faces prohibitive upfront capital costs for renewables due to unfavorable borrowing terms; Egypt's strategy to become a gas trading hub relies on potentially unsustainable European demand; and India faces the risk of a second phase of asset redundancy in gas infrastructure as renewables become cheaper.

APA

Roth,, G. M. S. M. K. D. G. (n.d.). Step Off the Gas: International public finance, natural gas and clean alternatives in the Global South. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south

Chicago

Roth,, Greg Muttitt,Shruti Sharma,Mostafa Mostafa,Kjell Kühne,Alex Doukas,Ivetta Gerasimchuk,Joachim. Step Off the Gas: International public finance, natural gas and clean alternatives in the Global South. International Institute for Sustainable Development, n.d. https://www.iisd.org/publications/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Roth, |first1=Greg Muttitt,Shruti Sharma,Mostafa Mostafa,Kjell Kühne,Alex Doukas,Ivetta Gerasimchuk,Joachim |title=Step Off the Gas: International public finance, natural gas and clean alternatives in the Global South |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rothndstep, author = {Roth,, Greg Muttitt,Shruti Sharma,Mostafa Mostafa,Kjell Kühne,Alex Doukas,Ivetta Gerasimchuk,Joachim}, title = {{Step Off the Gas: International public finance, natural gas and clean alternatives in the Global South}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }