Rio+20: phase-out of subsidies for fossil fuels

EU Climate Commissioner, Connie Hedegaard, is far from satisfied with the result of the UN conference on sustainable development. On her facebook profile she writes: “Nobody in the room was happy when the Rio text was adopted. That’s how weak it is.”

Ministers and diplomats have for days been negotiating in Rio de Janeiro, and Tuesday they agreed on a final text that heads of state and government will approve at the UN summit later this week.

Phase-out of subsidies for fossil fuels

Even though the text is weak, it is a very important step in the direction towards a phase-out of subsidies for fossil fuels such as oil and gasoline. No fixed date or concrete goals for the phase-out have been set, but emphasis is now on the need for a phase-out of fossil fuels, if we are to achieve the goal of a green economy based on renewable energy. 

While working on expanding the use of renewable energy, governments all over the world are spending billions of dollars on subsidies for the same fuels that they are trying to get rid of. Therefore, it is important that the Rio text brings attention to this dilemma. 

The Rio+20 conference is a follow up to the world famous conference on sustainable development which took place in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.

With more than 500.000 anticipated participants, the Rio+20 is expected to be the biggest UN meeting ever. 

Source: Politiken.dk