Governments have pledged to end harmful subsidies - so why are polluting industries still receiving $2.6tr a year?

James Murray
clock • 7 min read
Governments have pledged to end harmful subsidies - so why are polluting industries still receiving $2.6tr a year?

Two major new reports highlight how efforts to phase down inefficient subsidies are making scant progress

Every year the annual G20, G7, and COP Summits feature a recurring row over whether or not governments should commit to phasing out the fossil fuel and agricultural subsidies that artificially reduce the...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Policy

'Moving into the mainstream': Record number of heat pump grants issued in August

'Moving into the mainstream': Record number of heat pump grants issued in August

Last month saw highest ever number of discount vouchers issued in a single month since the Boiler Upgrade Scheme began in 2022

Michael Holder
clock 24 September 2026 • 4 min read
'Only the starting line': Germany commits to fossil fuel phase-out by 2045

'Only the starting line': Germany commits to fossil fuel phase-out by 2045

Europe's largest economy targets complete departure from oil, gas, and coal in new fossil fuel transition roadmap

Stuart Stone
clock 24 September 2026 • 5 min read
SFI 'fiasco' sparks calls for bigger nature-friendly farming budget amid huge demand

SFI 'fiasco' sparks calls for bigger nature-friendly farming budget amid huge demand

MPs and environmental campaigners call for overhaul of how Sustainable Farming Incentive funding is allocated, after thousands of farmers were left high and dry when allocation window abruptly closed this week

Rachael Brown and Michael Holder
clock 24 September 2026 • 9 min read