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Rubini, Luca --- "Subsidies for emissions mitigation under WTO law" [2013] ELECD 645; in Van Calster, Geert; Prévost, Denise (eds), "Research Handbook on Environment, Health and the WTO" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013) 561

Book Title: Research Handbook on Environment, Health and the WTO

Editor(s): Van Calster, Geert; Prévost, Denise

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781847208972

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Subsidies for emissions mitigation under WTO law

Author(s): Rubini, Luca

Number of pages: 75

Abstract/Description:

Since almost two-thirds of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) are energy related, any strategy to mitigate GHGs emissions needs to focus on energy production and use. Policy action should take various and simultaneous directions. On the one hand, the dependency of modern society on heavily polluting, and subsidized, fossil fuels should be tackled. It is thus commonly noted how the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies is one of the best steps towards GHGs emissions mitigation. On the other hand, the possibility of reducing and eventually replacing this dependency relies on increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy production and use. Other supplementary emission abatement options, like carbon capture and storage (CCS), should also be explored. Any effective and rational energy and environmental strategy, with the aim to mitigate climate change, is thus centered around a more efficient use of low-carbon energy.