Location: Mount Everest 3 Room, Crowne Plaza Copenhagen Towers Hotel, Orestads Blvd 114-118 - Copenhagen

Though long overdue, the issue of fossil-fuel subsidies suddenly became the focus of international attention when G-20 leaders, meeting in Pittsburgh on 24-25 September 2009, agreed to phase out such subsidies over the medium term. While the underlying rationale for fossil-fuel subsidy reform is compelling and the goal is clear, the challenge now lies in implementation: collecting the data, countering political reticence and resistance from entrenched interests, and softening the impact of higher energy prices on the poor.

For a special side-event at the 15th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15), the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) invites speakers and observers from a range of G-20 governments, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations as well as the private sector to focus on how the political commitment to phase out fossil-fuel subsidies can be translated into effective reform.

Speakers include Mark Halle, Executive Director, IISD-Europe; Per Callesen Deputy Permanent Secretary, Danish Ministry of Finance; William A. Pizer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Environment and Energy, U.S. Department of the Treasury; Andrew Dobbie, Department of Energy and Climate Change, United Kingdom; Helen Mountford, Acting Deputy Director, Environment Directorate, OECD; and Fatih Birol, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency.

The full agenda can be downloaded here.

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