G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding

Germany ranks first among G20 OECD member countries in the G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding, with an overall score of 71/100. While the country has reduced overall fossil fuel support by 35% compared to the 2014–2016 average—driven by the end of hard coal mining subsidies in 2018 and plans to phase out lignite by 2038—it continues to provide USD 2.6 billion annually for fossil fuel consumption in industry and transport. This consumption support is primarily delivered through tax relief for diesel and exemptions for aviation and shipping.

• Germany is ranked first among 11 G20 OECD member countries, attributed to high transparency, strong commitments, and relatively low support for fossil fuel production, power, and consumption.
• Total government support for fossil fuels averaged USD 5.9 billion between 2017 and 2019, consisting of USD 2 billion in direct transfers, USD 3.1 billion in tax expenditure, and USD 827 million in public finance.
• Overall government support for fossil fuels decreased by 35% compared to the 2014–2016 average, largely because of reductions in support for coal production and fossil fuel-based power. Public finance for fossil fuels specifically dropped by 75% over the same period.
• A significant area of concern is the USD 2.6 billion annual support for fossil fuel consumption in transport and industry, which includes tax relief for diesel and tax exemptions for shipping and aviation.
• Germany has taken specific steps to phase out coal, ending hard coal mining and subsidies in 2018 and targeting the end of lignite mining and coal-fired power by 2038.
• The German government provided a state-guaranteed USD 9.9 billion bailout to Lufthansa airline in exchange for a 20% share in the company as part of COVID-19 support.

APA

Picciariello, A. (2020). G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-germany.pdf

Chicago

Picciariello, Angela. G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-germany.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Picciariello |first1=Angela |title=G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-germany.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{picciariello2020g20, author = {Picciariello, Angela}, title = {{G20 Scorecard of Fossil Fuel Funding}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2020-11/g20-scorecard-germany.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }