Search Climate Insights Directory

The paper finds that most fossil fuel producing nations fail to use NDCs and LEDS to plan for a managed decline in production, often focusing only on cleaner extraction methods or explicitly planning for continued production.

The document outlines a methodology for calculating the amount of fossil fuel subsidies per unit of GDP, as required by SDG indicator 12.c.1, for both national and global estimates.

ClientEarth challenges the proposed Greek capacity mechanism (CM), asserting that the Greek authorities have failed to implement necessary market reforms and have provided a flawed generation adequacy assessment. The document argues that the CM's design discriminates against demand side response (DSR) and renewable energy in favor of lignite-fired plants, potentially using a 'grandfathering' clause to bypass EU emission standards. ClientEarth calls for a formal State aid investigation to ensure the scheme does not provide unjustified subsidies to fossil fuel incumbents.

The document argues that Indonesia's coal price cap, designed to protect the finances of the state-owned utility PLN, acts as a subsidy that locks out renewable energy. By capping coal prices at USD 70 per tonne, the government reduces operational costs for coal plants, making it difficult for renewables to compete under a pricing system based on average generation costs (BPP). The brief suggests alternative policies, such as windfall taxes on coal or 'polluter pays' principles, to support PLN without disadvantaging clean energy.

The report argues that transitioning away from fossil fuels through carbon pricing, energy efficiency, active transportation, and plant-based diets can simultaneously reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health outcomes. It highlights that in Canada, air pollution from fossil fuels causes 14,400 premature deaths annually, and that shifting to low-carbon energy and urban design can significantly reduce chronic diseases and healthcare costs.

The Doha Declaration on Climate, Health and Wellbeing, drafted by the Global Climate and Health Alliance in December 2012, asserts that health should be central to climate action. It highlights that climate change impacts health through direct means, such as extreme weather and infectious diseases, and indirect means, such as migration and conflict, disproportionately affecting children, women, and poorer populations. The declaration argues that climate mitigation—specifically reducing fossil fuel consumption and shifting to low-carbon energy—provides significant health co-benefits, including improved air quality and increased physical activity. The signatories call for health impacts to be fully evaluated and costed in climate decisions, the cessation of global fossil fuel subsidies, increased funding for health programs in vulnerable countries, and the inclusion of the health sector in designing mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The document examines why the WTO has seen few legal proceedings against fossil fuel subsidies despite their distorting impact on trade and investment. It specifically analyses the compatibility of four fossil fuel support measures in G20 countries with the 1994 Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures, concluding that litigating consumption subsidies is particularly difficult.

The document argues that climate change is the greatest health threat of the 21st century, citing specific impacts on Canadians such as respiratory issues from wildfires, heat-related deaths in Quebec, and food insecurity in the Canadian Arctic. It calls for federal action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, phase out coal and fossil fuel subsidies, and invest in public health resilience and a just transition for workers.

The report finds that while some progress has been made, the world is not yet on track to achieve the 2020 climate turning point. Progress is uneven across the six milestones, with most outcomes designated as having insufficient or off-track progress, though some areas like shipping and public climate finance are on track.

The report analyzes Indonesia's fiscal shift from fossil fuel dependence, noting a significant drop in upstream oil and gas revenues from 35% of total revenues in 2001 to 6% in 2016. It argues that current fuel and electricity subsidies are inefficient and that the government underutilizes the fiscal space available through energy consumption taxes compared to other BRIICS countries. The document advocates for investing subsidy savings and fossil fuel taxes into social development, economic diversification, and renewable energy.

The report analyzes Indonesia's shift from a high fiscal reliance on oil and gas revenues to a more diversified economy. It highlights a critical imbalance where government revenues from fossil fuel production are largely offset by inefficient consumption subsidies that disproportionately benefit wealthy households. The document warns of the risk of stranded assets valued between USD 200–300 billion and argues for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies to create fiscal space for renewable energy and social development.

Indonesia has successfully reduced its fiscal reliance on oil and gas production, but continues to struggle with inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that benefit wealthy households and hinder the growth of renewable energy. While the government has diversified its economy into manufacturing and finance, contradictory policies—such as maintaining price caps on fuels and prioritizing coal for electrification—create risks of stranded assets and environmental degradation. The report argues for the complete removal of fossil fuel subsidies, the implementation of consumption-based energy taxes, and the strategic investment of resource rents into social safety nets and renewable energy infrastructure to ensure a just transition.

The document evaluates the world's collective progress toward six climate milestones in energy, transport, land use, industry, infrastructure, and finance. It concludes that while some progress has been made, the global community is generally not on track to achieve the 2020 climate turning point. The report highlights significant data gaps that hinder accurate tracking and urges governments, businesses, and financial institutions to increase ambition and fulfill commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The 2019 SEforALL Charrettes brought together diverse stakeholders in Amsterdam to address systemic barriers to SDG7. The resulting report outlines proposed solutions across four key areas: creating a viable private sector market for clean cooking, improving data and evidence for electrification, bridging the finance gap in high-impact countries, and increasing risk appetite for last-mile electricity access.

The document highlights a 'production gap' where current fossil fuel extraction trajectories far exceed carbon budgets for 1.5°C and 2°C scenarios. It advocates for a combination of supply-side measures—such as exploration moratoriums and subsidy removals—and demand-side policies to achieve cost-effective emission reductions and a just transition for affected workers.

The 2019 Production Gap Report reveals that global fossil fuel production plans are significantly incompatible with the Paris Agreement goals. By 2030, planned production is projected to be 50% higher than consistent with a 2°C pathway and 120% higher than a 1.5°C pathway, with the largest gap occurring in coal. The report identifies that this gap is wider than the global emissions gap because governments continue to support production through subsidies, direct investment, and ambitious national targets. It examines 10 key producer countries and suggests 'supply-side' policies—such as extraction bans, subsidy reform, and just transition plans—to close the gap. The report emphasizes that international cooperation through the UN climate process and financial institutions is essential to manage an equitable decline in fossil fuel extraction.

The document analyzes the financial and social implications of Morocco's butane gas subsidies, which cost approximately USD 967 million in 2017. It proposes a 'swap' strategy to transition from fossil fuel subsidies to investments in solar energy to mitigate the impact on low-income households and small farmers while meeting Paris Agreement goals.

The report finds that total quantified energy subsidies in India declined from INR 2,15,974 crore in FY2014 to INR 1,51,484 crore in FY2017. While support for renewables grew nearly six-fold and oil and gas subsidies dropped by 76%, subsidies for fossil fuels remained more than triple those for renewables and electric vehicles in FY2017. Electricity transmission and distribution emerged as the largest subsidy recipient, largely due to under-pricing for consumers. The document highlights the challenge of poor targeting in energy access subsidies and the stability of coal subsidies despite environmental externalities.

The report argues that early action on just energy transitions can minimize negative impacts on workers and communities while maximizing opportunities in low-carbon sectors. It outlines a 'How-To' framework consisting of four key stages: understanding the political economy context, identifying champions, making the case through inclusive communication, and implementing complementary policies such as retraining and economic diversification. The document emphasizes that a just transition is not a fixed set of rules but a negotiated process based on social dialogue and tripartism. Through case studies, it demonstrates various approaches: Canada's use of a high-level Task Force, Egypt and Indonesia's reallocation of fossil fuel subsidies into social and infrastructure programs, and Poland's use of 'golden handshakes' and regional support for mining communes. It concludes that overcoming 'carbon lock-in' requires transparent communication, tangible short-term benefits, and the mobilization of dedicated funding from sources like energy taxes or subsidy reforms.

The document outlines various mechanisms through which G20 nations can redirect public money—including subsidies, tax revenues, state-owned enterprise investments, and credit support—away from fossil fuels. It highlights specific national and regional successes, such as Indonesia's subsidy reforms and the EU's phase-out of coal mining subsidies, while emphasizing the need for a faster transition that protects vulnerable groups and ensures a just transition for workers.