Report slams G-20 nations on fossil fuel subsidies

Two environmental groups are trying to ratchet up pressure on G-20 nations meeting in South Korea this month to make good on pledges to slash fossil fuel subsidies.

White House officials say they’re looking to the Nov. 11-12 Group of 20 summit in Seoul to make progress on eliminating subsidies as a way to slow greenhouse gas emissions.

But a report Monday from Oil Change International and Earth Track claims the G-20 efforts — announced at a Pittsburgh summit last year — haven’t gotten off the ground and lack transparency.

“No country has initiated a subsidy reform specifically in response to the G20. Although half of the member countries reported at least one policy supporting fossil fuels that they have targeted for reduction or elimination, all actions appear to be programs or changes that were already in-process prior to the G20 Communiqué [in Pittsburgh], and rely on previously established timelines as well. Further, some of the reported (pre-existing) reforms involve initiatives still in the proposal stage rather than existing statute or regulation, making their ultimate implementation uncertain,” the report finds.

It suggests several ways to improve the effort, such as creating an oversight board to review countries' plans and standardizing the process for reporting. But at the end of the day, the groups say, wonkier reforms won’t matter without political will.

“Ultimately though, the barriers to successfully reforming and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies are not just technical, but are political as well. Overcoming these political challenges will require dedication by G20 leaders, if they are to fulfill their pledge and successfully reform and eliminate fossil fuel subsidies,” the report states.