Fossil fuels have received twice as much support as clean energy sources from Covid-19 recovery packages launched by G20 nations, according to research that reveals some governments are continuing to throw “lifelines” to oil, coal and gas.
The research, flagged up by the UN secretary general António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres during an International Energy Agency (IEA) summit, tracked energy-specific responses by G20 governments since the start of the year.
Early findings show that between the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic early this year and 3 July, G20 countries have committed at least $135bn to fossil fuels against a minimum $68bn to clean energy in their stimulus and recovery packages.
