Why are we still subsidising fossil fuels?

In 2009, the G20 countries pledged to phase out 'inefficient'
fossil fuel subsidies, which have long been seen as an obstacle
to fighting climate change. But today, subsidies for oil and gas
producers are at record levels -- $64 billion in 2021. It’s not
just to do with the war in Ukraine.


Despite its image as a leader on climate change, the UK is listed
as one of the worst offenders for government support to oil and
gas producers because of its generous tax relief. We hear from
the centre of the UK’s oil and gas industry in Aberdeen,
Scotland, about the difficult balance between energy security,
jobs and climate change.


Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Luke Jones are joined by:


Ipek Gensu, Senior Research Fellow at Overseas Development
Institute Lord Deben, Chairman of the UK’s independent Climate
Change Committee and former Secretary of State for the
Environment from 1993-97 Kevin Keane, BBC Scotland’s Environment,
Energy and Rural Affairs correspondent – at Aberdeen port Fran
Bell, Fiscal and Investor Relations Manager at Offshore Energy UK


Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com


Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Researcher: Natasha Fernandes Series
Producer: Alex Lewis Editor: China Collins Sound Engineer: Tom
Brignell Production Co-ordinators: Helena Warwick Cross and
Siobhan Reed


Archive: The Obama White House