Runter vom Gas: Internationale öffentliche Finanzierung, Erdgas und saubere Alternativen im Globalen Süden

The report finds that international public financing for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries is four times higher than for wind or solar, creating a 'lock-in effect' that threatens climate goals. It argues that gas is no longer a necessary 'bridge technology' because renewables are often cheaper and more effective for energy access. The document recommends that international financial institutions cease all support for gas infrastructure and instead fund grid integration, technology transfer, and a just transition for affected workers.

• International public financing for gas projects in low- and middle-income countries significantly outweighs that for renewables, averaging nearly 16 billion USD per year between 2017 and 2019, which is four times the amount provided for wind or solar energy.
• Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) continued to prioritize gas during the Covid-19 pandemic, with gas accounting for over 75% of MDB support for fossil fuels in 2020.
• The concept of gas as a 'bridge technology' is considered obsolete due to the acute climate crisis, the rapid cost decline of wind and solar, and evidence of methane leaks from gas infrastructure.
• Investments in gas infrastructure pose significant economic risks, including the potential for 'stranded assets' and the 'resource curse,' as seen in Mozambique where gas development is linked to increased public debt and violence.
• Renewable energy is more cost-effective than gas for most applications, including electricity generation in most countries and rural energy access, where decentralized renewables are cheaper than extending gas grids.
• Case studies of emerging economies reveal specific challenges: Argentina faces a trap of high subsidies and debt; Egypt risks redundant infrastructure by pursuing both gas and electric vehicles; and India has significant idle gas capacity due to high import costs.

APA

Muttitt, G., Sharma, S., Mostafa, M., Kühne, K., Doukas, A., Gerasimchuk, I., & Roth, J. (2021). Runter vom Gas: Internationale öffentliche Finanzierung, Erdgas und saubere Alternativen im Globalen Süden. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south-summary-de.pdf

Chicago

Muttitt, Greg, Shruti Sharma, Mostafa Mostafa, Kjell Kühne, Alex Doukas, Ivetta Gerasimchuk, and Joachim Roth. Runter vom Gas: Internationale öffentliche Finanzierung, Erdgas und saubere Alternativen im Globalen Süden. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south-summary-de.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Muttitt |first1=Greg |last2=Sharma |first2=Shruti |last3=Mostafa |first3=Mostafa |last4=Kühne |first4=Kjell |last5=Doukas |first5=Alex |last6=Gerasimchuk |first6=Ivetta |last7=Roth |first7=Joachim |title=Runter vom Gas: Internationale öffentliche Finanzierung, Erdgas und saubere Alternativen im Globalen Süden |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south-summary-de.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{muttitt2021runter, author = {Muttitt, Greg and Sharma, Shruti and Mostafa, Mostafa and Kühne, Kjell and Doukas, Alex and Gerasimchuk, Ivetta and Roth, Joachim}, title = {{Runter vom Gas: Internationale öffentliche Finanzierung, Erdgas und saubere Alternativen im Globalen Süden}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-06/natural-gas-finance-clean-alternatives-global-south-summary-de.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }