Webinars – Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform

Upcoming Webinars

Currently there are no upcoming webinars.

Past Webinars

Trade and Climate after COVID-19: Subsidies, Stimulus, and Energy Price

Date: Thursday, May 28, 14:00 GMT.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses both threats and opportunities for international efforts on trade and climate change issues. This crisis is forcing governments around the world to consider implementing wider circular economy policies, greening and localizing larger parts of the supply chain. The pandemic may also potentially lead to more stringently protectionist agendas. Governments are also currently responding to the pandemic with stimulus packages to address all affected areas in their economies, and in some cases these packages include energy pricing and fossil fuel subsidy reform. Due in part to the global lockdown, demand for oil reduced by more than 15 million bpd in April 2020. This resulted in the lowest energy prices the world has seen in decades, another important factor in today’s trade and climate considerations.

This webinar intends to discuss global trade policy responses to COVID-19, as well as the broader climate and environment policy discussions happening as a result of the crisis. The first session will provide a global perspective on current events worldwide and discuss examples of response measures taken by a number of specific governments. The second session will focus on the present current situations. The Friends for Advancing Sustainable Trade (FAST) and Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform (FFFSR) will also share their views along with suggestions for trade policy measures to support resilience from both a climate and pandemic perspective.

Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/HD7CdTw5GtU

Cutting Emissions and Budget Deficits for a Post-Corona World: Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Carbon Pricing

Date: May 20, 08:00 GMT

In the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis, governments must react to rising budget deficits and the need to stimulate damaged economies. At the same time, they need to make “finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development” as set out in Article 2.1.c of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Fossil fuel subsidy (FFS) reform and carbon pricing – putting a price on greenhouse gas emissions through taxation or carbon markets – can both contribute to an overall signal to the market.

As part of the webinar, we will present findings of the forthcoming IISD Working Paper “Cutting Emissions and Budget Deficits for a Post-Corona World: Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform and Carbon Pricing”. This paper finds that governments continue to simultaneously apply taxes, subsidies, and carbon markets to many sectors of the economy, often for historical, institutional or political reasons. Given their coexistence it is necessary to consider the aggregate effects of these tools and the overall impact of these instruments on financial flows and broader governmental targets. As the world recovers from the COVID-19 crisis and deploys stimulus measures that will shape the economy over the coming decades, understanding these aggregate effects becomes even more crucial.

The webinar also intends to discuss the links between carbon pricing and fossil fuel subsidy reform, reinforcing the importance of a holistic approach to those issues and the need for an alignment between energy and climate policies. Speakers at this webinar will include experts on the topic and country delegates sharing their experiences.

Watch the recording: https://youtu.be/B8LnWpy-58g

Materials for Download:

Gender impacts and opportunities from fossil fuel subsidy reform

Date: July 8, 2019
Description:

Research shows that reforming fossil fuel subsidies can have many different impacts on the life of poor women. This webinar aims to foster discussion and exchange on a topic related to FFSR that is still not widely explored. Through strategic country testimonies, participants will be able to understand better how fuel subsidies affect poor women’s lives and how successful reforms can impact on their daily lives.

Laura Merrill – Gender and Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reforms

Dr. Nthabiseng Mohlakoana – Free Basic Energy Subsidies and The Informal Street Food Sector: A South African Case

Shruti Sharma – Gender Impacts and Opportunities from Targeted LPG Cooking Subsidies in India

Victoria Ibezim-Ohaeri – Gender Impacts and Opportunities From Kerosene Subsidies & Reform in Nigeria

Productive Uses of Energy and Gender in the Street Food Sector in Rwanda, Senegal and South Africa

Gender and fossil fuel subsidy reform: Findings from and recommendations for Bangladesh, India and Nigeria

Measuring and Monitoring Inefficient FFS: Understanding the Methodology of SDG Indicator 12.c.1

Date: April 5, 2019
Description:

Under Goal 12 (Responsible consumption and production) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the target 12.c is set to “rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance with national circumstances” by 2030. To measure and monitor the progress on this target, the associated indicator 12.c.1 comes as the “amount of fossil fuel subsidies per unit of GDP (production and consumption) and as a proportion of total national expenditure on fossil fuels”.

This webinar will present and explain the methodology developed by UN Environment in association with GSI-IISD and OECD on how to report against the indicator. Participants attending this webinar will be able to ask any related question directly to the experts that developed it, in a close forum of experts and interested countries.

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Fossil fuel subsidy reform and just transition – understanding the linkages

Date: November 22, 2018
Description:

There are significant linkages between fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR) and a just transition towards a sustainable low-carbon economy. For example, FFSR is consistent with just transition principles and, very importantly, FFSR has the ability to unlock revenues for implementing just transition. This webinar will explore how FFSR can contribute to a just transition, and how a just transition framework can contribute to successful reform, including country experiences from New Zealand and Australia.

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Self and Peer Reviews

Date: March 22, 2018
Description:

Voluntary peer reviews of FFS are a first step in the G20 and APEC commitments to phase out FFS. Self- and peer reviews of FFS are a tool for increasing transparency and accountability for the policies that potentially act against sustainable development. 12 countries around the world have completed or committed to such reviews under the G20 or the APEC processes. This webinar explains how peer reviews work, what are the advantages, and will share experiences of countries that went through the process.

Materials for Download:

Communications

Date: May 16, 2018
Description:

A key step of any reform is the communication to the population and managing the public opinion. Engagement and communications with the general public and civil society stakeholders are crucial to ensure a smooth, inclusive, bottom-up approach to reform.

This webinar will share lessons from relevant countries.

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FFS reform to sustainable energy (“SWAPS” and climate impacts)

Date: August 23, 2018
Description:

In addition to having positive climate impacts, the reform of FFS unlocks public finances that can be used to fund other government’s sustainable development priorities. This is called a SWAP. The webinar will present the concept, impact, current examples of SWAPS and propose potential cases.Materials for Download:

Mitigation measures and cash transfers to the poor

Date: September 20, 2018

Description:

One of the main pillars of an effective reform of subsidies to fossil fuels is to ensure that reforms are implemented in a manner that safeguards the poorest. This webinar will share country experiences from relevant countries.

Materials for Download: