IEA chief: 'Fossil fuel subsidies are public enemy number one for green energy'

clock

Fatih Birol says it does not make sense for governments to promote renewables at the same time as subsidising coal, oil and gas

The International Energy Agency's (IEA) chief economist has today again urged governments around the world to end the $0.5tr of annual subsidies given to oil and gas production, while also warning that...

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

Chancellor announces energy support package for chemicals and ceramics industry

Chancellor announces energy support package for chemicals and ceramics industry

Funding totalling £470m to help industrial firms cope with soaring energy bills and ramp up investment in decarbonisation

James Murray
clock 21 May 2026 • 5 min read
Circularity can be Britain's resilience strategy for a turbulent century

Circularity can be Britain's resilience strategy for a turbulent century

The UK is not simply exposed to the price of oil, it is exposed to the wasteful design of its economy, writes WRAP's Keith James

Keith James, WRAP
clock 19 May 2026 • 6 min read
Polluting diesel lorries risk driving up UK inflation – phasing them out is a no-brainer

Polluting diesel lorries risk driving up UK inflation – phasing them out is a no-brainer

The end of the road for diesel lorries will help ease pressure on inflation, while electric HGVs can cut freight transport costs, writes Green Alliance's Nicholas Davies

Nicholas Davies, Green Alliance
clock 18 May 2026 • 4 min read