Fossil fuels at the party

The figure makes you dizzy: 1,026 billion euros. This is the amount of fossil fuel subsidies paid by states in 2022, more than double the previous year. Sad record, notes the International Energy Agency (IEA), in a report published on February 16. Forced to respond urgently to soaring energy prices due to the war in Ukraine, the States intervened in a way that was not always well targeted, deplores the IEA. Favoring fossil fuels in this way remains a worrying sign for energy transitions, the agency said, adding: “It is better to spend on structural changes than on emergency relief. » The combustion of fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) represents more than 80% of greenhouse gas emissions.