Measuring Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals: Methodology Report Launch

The importance of measuring fossil fuel subsidies (FFS) has been recognized in the SDG process with a dedicated indicator on measuring FFS (12.c.1 – – “Amount of fossil fuel subsidies per unit of GDP”). UNEP has developed a methodology to measure FFS to provide guidance to UN member countries on reporting on this indicator. As custodian agency for the SDG indicator 12.c.1, UN Environment has developed a methodology to measure fossil fuel subsidies to provide guidance to UN member countries on reporting on this indicator. While periodic international monitoring on fossil fuel subsidies is carried out by international organisations such as the OECD, IMF and IEA, reporting under the SDG12.c.1 indicator will be the first attempt to systemically monitor fossil fuel subsidies to both consumption and production based on national data from 193 UN member countries and to collect this using an internationally agreed methodology. This monitoring and reporting on fossil fuel subsidies will help to increase transparency on fossil fuel subsidies, providing comparable data to allow the tracking of national and global trends. The event will start with a presentation from UNEP on the employment of the methodology to measure fossil fuel subsidies within the context of the SDGs. The OECD will follow with a presentation on how FFS data supports reform. Ending with an interactive discussion on current practices on FFS data collection, institutional arrangement and key challenges and capacity needs. The launch event will be hosted by New Zealand, and mediated by Thomas Haidon, Deputy Permanent Representative to the WTO, New Zealand. Attendees without WTO accreditation must register by close of business Thursday 9 May RSVP by clicking here.   Please access the flyer for the event through this link. The powerpoint UNEP presentation, delivered by Joy Kim, Senior Economic Affairs Officer, can be accessed through this link. The OECD’s presentation delivered by Rachel Bae, Senior Counsellor in the Trade and Agriculture Directorate, can be accessed here. The full study entitled “Measuring Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals” is available here for download.