Abbey Abramson

  Fossil fuels case snapshots Why this book focuses on the downstream  Upstream fights, such as subsidy reform or anti-lobbying rules, are essential but often unfold slowly. Meanwhile, billions are already being allocated for adaptation in developing countries. If procurement, build quality, maintenance, and monitoring are corrupted, even a perfect upstream policy won’t protect communities. Here is where rhetoric meets rebar: that is why later chapters focus on how money becomes protection, or does not, in flood control, shelters, forests, and social security (IPCC). Case snapshot: India—subsidy lock-ins and coal-system inertia India has set ambitious clean-energy goals, such as achieving 500 GW of non-fossil capacity by 2030, and clean-energy investment is rising rapidly. Yet coal still supplies about 70% of electricity, supported by entrenched interests, legacy PPAs, and cross-subsidies complicating price signals. This creates a dual reality: rapid renewable growth, but pers...

  Fossil fuel policy capture Why this chapter is short—and it still matters Before examining the integrity of public funds for adaptation and resilience, we must acknowledge the upstream obstacles, including subsidies, lobbying, revolving doors, and long-term contracts that favor the use of fossil fuels. These forces slow down decarbonization and distort budgets, crowding out essential investments such as flood control, resilient drainage, and early warning systems. For example, levee upgrades may be delayed and early-warning systems underfunded, leaving communities vulnerable. Think of these distortions as the gravity field around every climate project we will examine later (IPCC). Fossil subsidies are large, sticky, and politically defended Even after the 2022 price shock faded, fossil-fuel consumption subsidies remained enormous: the IEA estimates USD 1.1 trillion in 2023, down from a record USD 1.6 trillion in 2022 but still historically high. The OECD/IEA inventory confirms ...

  COP30 Missing Fossil Fuel Phase-out The Missing Fossil Fuel Phase-Out: How Oil & Gas Interests Shaped COP30’s Limits The 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Belém, Brazil, had many observers expecting a shift in the global energy paradigm. With increasing clarity that the climate crisis is driven by fossil fuels and growing demands from vulnerable countries, civil society, and a majority of parties pushed for a concrete roadmap to phase out coal, oil, and gas. Instead, COP30 concluded with no binding fossil-fuel phase-out language in its core text, revealing how entrenched oil and gas interests continue to influence international climate diplomacy. This outcome matters deeply — because without addressing the root cause of global warming, mitigation and adaptation initiatives face significant limits. The context: Why a fossil fuel phase-out matters Climate science is clear: unabated fossil-fuel extraction and use remain the most significant single ...

  The Hidden Subsidies: Fossil Fuels and Financial Costs Fossil fuels processing structure Governmental subsidies and substantial financial support for fossil fuel use are partly, if not hugely, responsible for maintaining their dominant spot in the global energy system. Often hidden from public scrutiny, such subsidies artificially lower the cost of fossil fuels, which could distort markets and delay the transition to clean energy sources. This section explores the various forms of fossil fuel subsidies, their economic and environmental impacts, and the opportunity costs associated with maintaining these subsidies in the face of the climate crisis. What Are Fossil Fuel Subsidies? Fossil fuel subsidies are financial mechanisms that  many governments employ to aid and sustain coal, oil, and natural gas production and consumption . These financial mechanisms are created in various forms, such as direct financial support, wherein governments pay or provide grants to fossil fue...