Broad consensus on phasing out of fossil fuel subsidies
Published
Global fossil fuel subsidies totalled USD 548 billion in 2013. At the COP21 climate conference, which is under way in Paris, Prime Minister Stefan Löfven presented a communiqué to the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Christiana Figueres. The communiqué outlines important messages on how the world can phase out fossil fuels. A large number of countries and organisations are backing the messages, which were produced by the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform group.
Sweden, alongside likeminded countries, advocates for the phasing out of subsidies to fossil energy through the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform group. The group’s aim is to promote such a phase-out globally. The communiqué that was presented at the climate conference calls on the international community to mitigate climate change by accelerating action to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. The communiqué is a politically non-binding pledge on the importance of phasing out fossil fuel subsidies.
“It is impressive that so many countries and organisations are now coming together to phase out fossil fuel subsidies. This is a key issue that the international community must resolve to enable sustainable development,” said Mr Löfven.
Sweden has played an active role in the efforts to gather as many countries and organisations as possible behind the communiqué. Some 39 countries from around the world and 100 international organisations and companies now back the communiqué and its messages. At national level, Sweden is demonstrating its commitment and contributions through the Fossil-free Sweden initiative.
The communiqué was presented on 30 November at the COP21 Leaders Event on the first day of the conference in Paris. Mr Löfven was a moderator at the meeting, which was also attended by heads of state from Norway, New Zealand and the Netherlands, ministers from the Marshall Islands, Morocco and Peru, and representatives of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the business sector.
Fact box: Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform
Alongside some thirty other countries, Sweden is a member of the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFFSR) group. The group was formed in 2010 to encourage G20 and APEC leaders to deliver on their commitment to phase out ineffective fossil fuel subsidies from 2009 onwards.
Fossil fuel subsidies totalled an estimated USD 548 billion in 2013, which is around five times higher than support to renewable energy. Various studies have shown that if subsidies are eliminated, global emissions would decrease significantly. Phasing out subsidies is an important and cost-effective measure and, moreover, the subsidies primarily benefit middle- and high-income earners.
The FFFSR countries jointly courted the G20 countries between 2011 and 2014 to push for fossil fuel subsidy reform in those countries. The group has also held seminars and workshops at UN climate conferences, the World Bank Spring Meeting and in connection with OECD meetings.
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