Objective: to support national and international dialogue and convergence between stakeholders on the viability and potential for tangible advances in the reform of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies at COP 30.
Date: October 23, 2025
Time: from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Closing cocktail party: 6 p.m. – 8: p.m.
Location: Kubitschek Plaza Hotel – SHN Quadra 02 Bloco E, Setor Hoteleiro Norte, Brasília, DF 70702-904, Brazil.
Context:
Reforming inefficient fossil fuel subsidies is a topic of high global relevance. Empirical data confirms that such subsidies distort the comparative advantages of renewable energy and international trade, undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, deplete precious public resources, and exacerbate social injustices. Furthermore, reforms can have social, economic and geopolitical impacts.
Several international and multilateral organizations have tackled the difficulty of aligning countries with the global climate and sustainable development goals, including: G20, G7, OMC, ONU/ODS, ONU/COP28, WBG, FMI, OCDE, IEA, COFFIS, CFMCA, and FFFSR.
Such initiatives signal a process of building commitments and paths for reform. This is critical, because the issue’s high economic and geopolitical sensitivity shows that it is not up to a single country to solve the global problem of emissions, which is heavily centered around the worldwide usage of fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the context presented is a climate multilateralism crisis, accelerating extreme weather events, geopolitical tensions over fossil fuel production and consumption, and an urgent need to speed energy transition and solve the climate finance problem.
As COP 30 approaches in Brazil, expectations are raised that progress will be made in aligning technical efforts and commitments in this direction.
The matter has gained growing support on the domestic agenda. The Tax Reform calls for a five-year examination of diverse taxation regimes that affect a variety of economic sectors, including the Oil and Gas sector. All should undergo progressive evaluations of efficiency, efficacy, and effectiveness in relation to social, environmental, and economic development policies. The matter has been repeatedly evaluated by the Federal Court of Accounts (TCU), either linking it to energy transition or considering it as part of the country’s commitments as a signatory to the Biodiversity Convention (CDB).
Furthermore, a gradual examination and reform of inefficient fossil fuel subsidies is likely to increase tax revenues, which are becoming progressively more important to address the repercussions of global warming and its severe effects on the poorest populations.
Thus, conducting the event is beneficial since it will provide a national perspective on the subject while also broadening our understanding of the opportunities for tangible progress at COP30.
Opening: Mrs. Suely Araujo (Climate Observatory) and Nathalie Beghin (Inesc) – 2:00 p.m.
Table 1: Converging international action to reform inefficient fossil subsidies: (2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.)
- Moderation: Mr. Nicolas Lippolis – Columbia Climate School / Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia-SIPA
- Mr. Nhat Do: IISD/Coalition on Phasing Out Fossil Fuel Incentives Including Subsidies
- Mr. Jan Rielaender: OECD Development Centre
- Mrs. Paula Osorio: Transforma Global (Colombia)
- Mrs. Alice Amorim: Program Director, Office of the COP30 Presidency
Table 2: Potential and challenges of the inefficient fossil subsidies reform: observations from the Brazilian case (4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.)
- Moderation: Mrs. Marta Salomon – Talanoa
- Mrs. Alessandra Cardoso: Institute of Socioeconomic Studies (Inesc)
- Mr. Alexandre Figueiredo: Secretary of External Control for Energy and Communications/ Federal Court of Accounts
- Mr. Gustavo Henrique Ferreira: Deputy Secretary for Economic Monitoring and Regulation, Secretary for Economic Reforms / Ministry of Finance
- Sra. Simone Bauch: Coordenadora-geral na Assessoria de Economia e Meio Ambiente do Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima (MMA).
Closing cocktail party: 6:00 p.m.
