Globally, fossil fuels receive 6xs more subsidies than renewable energy. Many of these companies make "excessive" profits and pay almost no taxes thanks to "subsidies," "research & development" and a k-zillion other corporate welfare tax breaks. The "market value" at the gas pump is also driven up by oil industry speculators.
More than 1 million people who think this is absurd have added their signatures to a petition at http://350.org/rio to tell world leaders meeting in Rio de Janeiro to end fossil fuel subsidies immediately!
Ending Fossil Fuel Subsidies topped the Rio +20 UN World's Top 10 List to be discussed at Dialogue Days at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) at the Riocentro Convention Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 16 to 19, 2012. An online public poll ahead of the conference was used to prioritize the dialogue schedule.
"If we want to avoid the devastating effects of climate change, we need to reduce and limit the use of fossil fuels," was a new and very strong dialogue expressed at the conference. Many participants advocate stronger wording and a clear commitment to press the nations of the world to end subsidies
Nearly $1 trillion is given by governments every year to coal, oil and gas companies. Three years ago, the G20 committed to phase-out these handouts to "dirty fuel" industries, but they haven't taken any action since.
TURN THIS TRILLION GREEN: In preparation for an #EndFossilFuelSubsidies "Twitter Storm" set for all day June 18, volunteers with
Avaaz and 350.org unfurled a massive banner on the Copacabana beach, calling on world leaders at the Rio+20 Summit to end the nearly $1 trillion dollars being handed out in fossil fuel subsidies each year.
During the four days of dialogue, non-government and non-UN agency representatives from civil society, including the private sector, scientific community, NGOs and other major groups have been discussing the most promising solutions related to sustainable long-term planning. They are engaged in an open and action-oriented debate on key topics related to sustainable development. Three recommendations emanating from each of the Dialogues will be conveyed directly to the Heads of State and Government present at the Summit.
Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum: The Business Case for
the Green Economy
The Forum on June 17th was a gathering of thoughtful leaders from business, financial institutions and governments to offer insight and vision on the opportunities and challenges of financing
the transition to a green economy in the context of sustainable development and
poverty alleviation.
"It's very important that we learn to do much more with fewer natural resources," said George Kell, executive director of the United Nations Global Compact.
The UN Dialogues initiative was launched through a digital platform (
https://www.riodialogues.org/) in order to provide the wider public a democratic space for discussion. The on-line debates on each of the ten themes of the Dialogues, facilitated by researchers from renowned academic institutions around the world, resulted in ten concrete recommendations that can be viewed and voted for in a public website (
http://vote.riodialogues.org).
The Rio+20 forums were broadcast live and can be viewed at
UN Webcast.
