Sean Sweeney from Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) has written an article titled “‘Weaponizing the Numbers’: The Hidden Agenda behind Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform”.
Originally written for the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies’ journal, New Labor Forum, the article unpacks the differences between producer and consumer subsidies, digs into the numbers behind the calls for reform, and uncovers a disturbing reality. On close inspection, Sweeney argues, it’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that elite institutions are actually inflating the numbers — not in order to put pressure on fossil fuel interests, but to wage war on state regulation of energy prices. Sweeney concludes that “subsidy reform” would hurt workers in the global South, while doing little or nothing to reduce fossil fuel use or dependency.
The full article is available in English, Spanish and Korean.
Trade Unions for Energy Democracy (TUED) is a global, multi-sector trade union initiative to advance democratic direction and control of energy in a way that promotes solutions to the climate crisis, energy poverty, the degradation of both land and people, and responds to the attacks on workers’ rights and protections. TUED is is part of the Global Labour Institute Network. For more information on how your union can be part of TUED, see here.