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Subsidies to Coal Power Generation in China
The report identifies 14 subsidy schemes for coal-fired power in China, quantifying the total value at CNY 252.4 billion (USD 37.7 billion) in 2014 and CNY 120.8 billion (USD 18 billion) in 2015. Key support mechanisms include power purchase guarantees, premiums for low-emission plants, and infrastructure investments in rail and grids. The authors argue that these subsidies provide coal an advantage over renewables and should be integrated into G20 fossil fuel subsidy review processes.
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Document type: Report
Open letter to members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament on the revision of the EU ETS
The open letter argues that the EU ETS currently sustains coal infrastructure through low carbon prices and the misuse of Article 10c and the Modernisation Fund. The signatories call for a tighter ETS cap to increase carbon prices and the explicit exclusion of coal-related investments from funding mechanisms to avoid locking Central and Eastern Europe into coal dependency.
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Document type: Statement
The trade system and climate action: ways forward under the Paris Agreement
The document examines the tension between WTO non-discrimination rules and national climate policies, such as renewable energy subsidies and carbon pricing. It analyzes recent WTO disputes over local content requirements and proposes solutions including authoritative interpretations of GATT Article XX, the use of regional trade agreements (RTAs) to test new rules, and increased institutional coordination between the WTO and UNFCCC.
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Document type: Research paper
The trade system and climate action: ways forward under the Paris Agreement
The document examines the tension between international trade rules and national climate policies, arguing that while trade rules are often seen as barriers to climate ambition, they can also facilitate the deployment of clean technologies. It proposes five key steps to create a more climate-friendly trade regime: an authoritative interpretation of GATT Article XX, the inclusion of climate expertise in WTO dispute settlement, the use of regional trade agreements to test climate rules, the pursuit of plurilateral deals like the Environmental Goods Agreement, and increased institutional coordination between the WTO and UNFCCC to enhance transparency.
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Document type: Executive summary
Open letter to Members of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament on the revision of the EU ETS
A coalition of networks and organizations calls for an ambitious revision of the EU ETS to stop the use of Article 10c and the Modernisation Fund for fossil fuel capacity, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. They advocate for a higher carbon price to disincentivize coal and the redirection of funds toward energy efficiency and renewable energy.
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Document type: Statement
UNA REVOLUCIÓN ENERGÉTICA ES POSIBLE
The report by Friends of the Earth International asserts that the massive amount of public revenue lost annually to tax havens—estimated at $600 billion—is sufficient to finance a global energy revolution. Specifically, it calculates that an investment of US$7,603 billion by 2030 could provide 100% renewable energy to Africa, Latin America, and 'Other Asia'. The document advocates for the elimination of tax havens and the redirection of fossil fuel subsidies to support community-controlled renewable energy systems as a means to combat climate change and global inequality.
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Document type: Executive summary
AN ENERGY REVOLUTION IS POSSIBLE
The report asserts that an 'Energy Revolution' is financially viable if governments end tax avoidance and evasion. It calculates that the annual cost to power half the world with 100% renewable energy—approximately $507 billion—is well below the estimated $600 billion in annual government revenue lost to tax havens. The document advocates for a just energy transition based on democratic control and energy access as a human right, specifically targeting the global South.
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Document type: Executive summary
15 SIGNALS: EVIDENCE THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS UNDERWAY
The report identifies 15 'signals' indicating a global energy transition, including the rapid growth of renewable energy capacity, falling solar PV costs, and record investments in green energy. It highlights China's leading role in renewable investment and the decline of the coal industry. The document also notes the rise of city-level climate actions and the growth of the green bond market, while advocating for a 'just transition' that addresses energy poverty and social equity.
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Document type: Report
Meeting Canada's Subsidy Phase-Out Goal: What it means in Saskatchewan
The document identifies approximately CAD 182 million in financial supports for fossil fuel consumption in Saskatchewan in 2015. It argues that these subsidies hinder efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and obstruct Canada's ability to meet G7 subsidy elimination targets. While acknowledging the use of carbon capture and storage technology in the province, the author calls for subsidy reform, increased transparency regarding foregone revenue, and a coordinated federal-provincial approach to support affected industries and workers during the transition.
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Document type: Briefing
Will the G20 Spur Post-Paris Climate Action? 3 Signs to Look For
The briefing identifies three key indicators that would signal the G20's commitment to the post-Paris climate era: a clear target date for phasing out fossil fuel subsidies, the promotion of green finance through climate-related financial risk disclosure, and the collective ratification of the Paris Agreement by the end of 2016.
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Document type: Briefing
Stories of Coal Phase-Out: Lessons learned for China
The report utilizes the "window of opportunity" framework—examining context, champions, concerns, and complementary policies—to analyze coal phase-outs in California, Denmark, France, and Beijing. It highlights how resource endowment, international climate commitments, and public health concerns drive reform. For Beijing, the report details the closure of coal mines and power plants, the role of central and local government coordination, and the impact of high-profile events like the Olympics and APEC summit in accelerating the transition. It concludes that successful nationwide phase-out in China requires viable energy alternatives, social protection for workers, and high-level political leadership supported by grassroots demand.
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Document type: Report
Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform
The report finds a significant lack of primary quantitative research on how fossil fuel subsidy reforms specifically affect women. It argues that while subsidies are generally regressive—benefiting wealthier households—their removal can disproportionately harm poor women due to their primary responsibility for domestic energy tasks and limited intra-household bargaining power. The document reviews the potential for mitigation measures, such as conditional cash transfers and targeted energy vouchers, and outlines a mixed-methods research plan for Bangladesh, India, and Nigeria to analyze impacts on women's welfare, productivity, and empowerment.
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Document type: Report
Vote for the environment
Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica calls on 750,000 supporters to vote for candidates who prioritize environmental values. He argues that an environmental majority in the US government is necessary to repeal fossil fuel and nuclear subsidies, protect pollinators from chemicals, and uphold the Clean Power Plan.
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Document type: Statement
Meeting Canada's Subsidy Phase-Out Goal: What it means in Ontario
The document outlines the need for Ontario to remove environmentally harmful fossil fuel subsidies to align with Canada's G-7 commitment to end such subsidies by 2025. It references a national estimate of CAD 2.9 billion in production subsidies and notes that while Ontario has phased out coal and implemented carbon pricing, further action is required regarding preferential tax treatments for fossil fuels.
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Document type: Briefing
Building on Momentum: Recommendations from the GSI for Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform at the G20
The policy brief argues that G20 countries should accelerate the phase-out of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies by adopting a clear timetable, increasing transparency through peer reviews, and ensuring targeted support for the poor. It highlights the success of voluntary peer review processes in APEC and the G20, and notes a growing international consensus—including commitments from G-7 countries to phase out such subsidies by 2025—to align fiscal policies with climate objectives.
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Document type: Policy brief
Trade in Transforming Our World
The report identifies six clusters of trade-related commitments in the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, ranging from subsidy reform to the multilateral trading system. It argues that because trade's contribution to sustainable development is 'pervasive but diffuse', a multi-level review process—comprising national self-assessments, regional peer learning, and global orchestration via the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF)—is necessary. The authors suggest leveraging existing mechanisms, such as the WTO's Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM) and OECD country reviews, to avoid overburdening states. To ensure coherence, the report recommends the creation of an inter-agency task force to synthesize trade-related reporting for the HLPF.
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Document type: Report
FINANCING DEVELOPMENT WITH FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDIES
The report analyzes the reallocation of IDR 211 trillion (USD 15.6 billion) in fuel subsidy savings in Indonesia during 2015. It finds that funds were primarily redirected toward ministries' budgets, capital injections for state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and regional transfer funds. The study concludes that this shift from consumption to productive investment is aligned with the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) 2015–2019, likely generating higher GDP and employment, and reducing the budget's vulnerability to international oil price volatility.
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Document type: Report
Supporting Energy Pricing Reform and Carbon Pricing Policies Through Crediting
The report examines the potential for 'policy crediting' to incentivize developing countries to implement or strengthen carbon pricing and energy subsidy reforms. Through case studies in Morocco, Indonesia, Mexico, and China (Beijing), the study finds that the financial value of carbon credits is generally very low compared to the fiscal gains from the base policies themselves, suggesting that credits are unlikely to be the primary driver for policy adoption. However, the report argues that crediting could still play a role by supporting mitigation at the 'policy margin' (complementary measures), funding the operational strengthening of ETS markets, or providing targeted compensation to vulnerable stakeholders. The authors highlight significant challenges in establishing baselines and monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) for policy-level reductions compared to project-level offsets.
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Document type: Report
Fossil fuel subsidies from Europeade carbon market
The policy brief examines Article 10c of the EU ETS Directive, which allows lower-income Member States in Central and Eastern Europe to grant free emission allowances to the power sector provided they invest the equivalent value in energy system modernisation. The author argues that this mechanism has largely subsidised coal power and fossil fuel infrastructure rather than diversifying energy mixes, citing examples in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania. It highlights failures in transparency, public consultation, and additionality, specifically noting investments in the Belchatow power station. The brief recommends that the post-2020 revision implement a competitive bidding process for all investments, exclude coal from eligibility, and ensure open public consultation to align the mechanism with EU decarbonisation goals.
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Document type: Policy brief
DBTL Performance Evaluation: Insights from the world’s largest subsidy benefit transfer scheme
The report assesses the modified DBTL (PAHAL) scheme in India, finding it largely successful in reducing the diversion of subsidized LPG and improving delivery regularity. While consumer enrolment was high and satisfaction generally positive, the study identifies critical gaps in financial inclusion for rural households and a lack of awareness regarding grievance redressal and subsidy transfer status. The authors highlight that while DBTL is a mechanism for disbursement rather than a conventional subsidy reform, it enables future targeted reforms by establishing a common market price.
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Document type: Report