UNEP/IEA Joint Workshops on

Energy Subsidy Reform and Sustainable Development: Challenges for Policy Makers

Recognising the importance of energy subsidy reform to achieve sustainable development, UNEP's Division of Technology, Industry and Economics and the International Energy Agency jointly conducted a series of regional workshops:

• Paris , France (6-7 November 2000): OECD countries and countries with economies in transition;
• Durban , South Africa (15-16 December 2000): African region and specific needs of African countries;
• Bangkok , Thailand (16-17 January 2001): Asian region and specific needs of Asian countries;
• Santiago , Chile (27-28 March 2001): Latin-America region and specific needs of Latin-American countries.

These workshops concluded with a special wrap-up session bringing together the results of all four workshops.

The objectives of the workshops were to:

• further the dialogue between countries on energy subsidies and their implications for sustainable development;
• provide a platform for representatives of government, NGOs and industry to discuss issues surrounding energy subsidies and their reform, and share experience based on country-specific case studies and analyses;
• review, and build on, methodologies to identify and assess impacts of energy subsidies, and enhance capacities to find win-win solutions in defining and implementing energy subsidy reform;
• help identify sustainable energy strategies and outline policy options that can support them.

The workshops followed a similar general structure: a broad variety of subsidy experts from governments, research institutes, industry and NGOs looked at (i) today's situation, (ii) rationale and goals for energy subsidies, and (iii) challenges of reforming subsidies. A special focus was given to raising awareness on the linkages between energy subsidies and their environmental, social and economic impacts. Discussions were based on presentations, showing both positive and negative practical examples. To allow for inter-regional exchange and provide for continuity, participants from different regions were invited to each regional workshop.

For each workshop a compilation of key issues, and policy options and recommendations was prepared. In addition, an overall synthesis of the main outcomes and recommendations of the workshop series, and associated analytical work was prepared and submitted to the Ninth Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development.