Energy Seminar – Week 1: The political economy of fossil fuel subsidy reform in developing countries

This seminar will outline the main arguments of the new book on “Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies – the politics of saving the planet”, written by Dr. Neil McCulloch. The book explains what fossil fuel subsidies are, how they inflict harm and what steps are being taken to reduce them. It also shows why subsidies persist and why existing efforts have been so ineffective. Drawing lessons from countries which have tried to remove fossil fuel subsidies, it explains that the fundamental challenge to reform is not technical, but political. The book lays out a new agenda for action on fossil fuel subsidies, showing how a better understanding of the underlying political incentives can lead to more effective approaches to tackling this major global problem.