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Increasing the Momentum of Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform: A roadmap for international cooperation
International collaboration and agreement can provide essential support to national efforts to reform fossil-fuel subsidies. In addition to supplying political legitimacy and peer pressure, it can also offer research and technical assistance, sharing of information and best practice, establishment of rules, financial support and promoting increased accountability.
But where, institutionally, should this international collaboration and agreement be housed?
This paper takes a detailed look at the opportunities, strengths and weaknesses of progressing fossil-fuel subsidy reform within the WTO, UNFCCC and under the G-20's political leadership, and concludes that a collaborative approach between a range of organisations is needed, with country champions driving the process. The paper outlines a roadmap over the next 12 months, 1-3 years and the longer term for increasing international cooperation, and preparing the path to a multilateral agreement on fossil-fuel subsidy reform.
This paper was would not have been possible without the generous support of the Economics and Trade Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and was prepared by the GSI under IISD's From Bali To Copenhagen program, which can be accessed at: http://www.iisd.org/trade/crosscutting/bali_copenhagen/subsidies_fossil_fuel.asp
Last updated: 21 July, 2010
