FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM (FFSR)

CONVENING NOTICE

Revision

The following revised convening notice, dated 30 September, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of New Zealand (as coordinator of the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform Initiative).

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The Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) Initiative will hold its tenth meeting, in hybrid mode in Room E and via Zoom on 2 October 2025, from 10.00 Geneva time. All WTO Members are invited to attend the meeting. Please see technical arrangements in Annex I.

Agenda

1._        Introductory remarks by the Chair

2._        Dedicated session on experience sharing

Experience sharing among Members on approaches to fossil fuel subsidy reform, including case studies, lessons learnt, and complementary policies adopted to support reform.

(a)_  Member presentations

(b)_  Stakeholder presentations

a._    UNDP – presentation on "Relevant UNDP work on climate, energy, and public finance that is closely aligned with fossil fuels subsidy reform", Orria Goñi Delzangles, Lead Advisor Public Finance, Sustainable Finance Hub.

b._    Global Environment Facility (GEF) – presentation on the "GEF projects and work that address fossil fuels subsidy reform", Esteban Bermúdez Forn, Climate Change Specialist.

3.      More detailed discussion on different categories of subsidies: Subsidies that are passed through to emissions-intensive sectors

This item will provide the opportunity for a more detailed discussion of the trade and environmental effects of fossil fuel subsidies that are passed through to emissions intensive industries.

(a)_  OECD – presentation on "Measuring distortions in international markets: Below-market energy inputs", Jehan Sauvage, Policy Analyst, Trade and Agriculture Directorate.

(b)_  Eunomia and QUNO – presentation on "Plastic Money: Turning off the subsidies tap", on process energy subsidies and feedstock support, Andrés Naranjo, Associate Representative, QUNO, and Tanzir Chowdhury, Managing Consultant Economist, Eunomia.

4.      Pillars One and Two: Enhanced Transparency and Crisis Support Measures

Update on work being undertaken by co-sponsors on enhanced transparency (particularly in the WTO Trade Policy Review process) and draft guidelines to help ensure future crisis support measures are transparent, targeted and remain temporary. 

5.      Interventions by other stakeholders

6.      Conclusion

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Annex I

Technical Arrangements

Please note that this meeting will be held in hybrid mode (Room E and via Zoom).

1  REMOTE PARTICIPATION

Delegates wishing to participate virtually via the Zoom platform, including capital-based officials, must register in advance of the meeting through this link:

https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/eW-KhD_2T6uCpircCCkC5g

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Before the meeting:

·_        We are available 30 minutes before the meeting to test your connection with you.

During the meeting:

·_        If technical difficulties result in delegations being unable to intervene virtually under a given agenda item, the opportunity to take the floor will be given at an appropriate juncture before the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may contact the meeting coordinators (ffsr@wto.org) during the course of the meeting, either to send their statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request that the attendees be informed of their interest in the item under consideration and their intention to circulate their written statement after the meeting.

2  STATEMENTS

To facilitate interpretation, delegations are strongly encouraged to send their written statements to the Secretariat (ffsr@wto.org) before the meeting starts. Statements will also be gratefully received during the meeting (ffsr@wto.org).

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