Events

Timely seminars and high level events help promote reform. Events are ordered chronologically and include an impressive number of influential speakers from around the world.

Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform: International collaboration and the link between sustainability objectives and global trade

WTO Public Forum session

12:00-13:30

The event will shine light on how the phasing-out of fossil fuel subsidies can advance sustainable consumption and production in the context of global trade. Fossil fuel subsidies were estimated at more than USD 500 billion in 2018. These subsidies have a series of negative effects: they are socially regressive, encourage wasteful consumption, increase local pollution, contribute to climate change, disadvantage clean energy technologies and are a drain on scarce public resources.

The panel will discuss how international collaboration can support reforms with a view towards achieving SDG goal 12(c) of Agenda 2030.

Speakers:

Ambassador David Walker, New Zealand Permanent Representative to the WTO (moderator)

Crispin Conroy, Geneva Representative Director, International Chamber of Commerce

Steven Stone, Chief of Resources and Markets Branch, Economy Division, UN Environment

Rachel Bae, Senior Counsellor, Trade and Agriculture, OECD

 

Registration: Forum-registered participants only

The Friends group was formed in June 2010 to support G20 and APEC leaders’ commitments to phase out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies. The Friends encourage the G20 and APEC to implement their initiative as soon as possible, with maximum ambition and transparency.

Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform are

  • Costa Rica
  • Denmark
  • Ethiopia
  • Finland
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Uruguay
  • Netherlands