The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), a Canada-based research group, is calling for world leaders to band together to phase out fossil fuel subsidies.
From the IISD's press release:
"A national pledge to phase out fossil-fuel subsidies will free up valuable fiscal resources that can be redirected to fund other sustainable development priorities, provide the opportunity to introduce more targeted measures to support low-income households, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help incentivize investments in renewable energy."
The report claims that global fossil-fuel consumption subsidies added up to $312 billion in 2009 and $558 billion in 2008.
"Fossil-fuel consumption subsidies distort market prices, creating a gap between the domestically subsidized price and the international market price. This situation has serious fiscal and economic ramifications for the country implementing the subsidies."
FULL STORY: IISD calls for countries to phase out all fossil fuel subsidies
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