Renewable energy policy as an enabler of fossil fuel subsidy reform? Applying a socio-technical perspective to the cases of South Africa and Tunisia

Schmidt, Tobias S; Matsuo, Tyeler; Michaelowa, Axel

doi:10.5167/uzh-143586

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Schmidt, T. S., Matsuo, T., & Michaelowa, A. (2017). Renewable energy policy as an enabler of fossil fuel subsidy reform? Applying a socio-technical perspective to the cases of South Africa and Tunisia. Global Environmental Change, 45, 99–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2017.05.004

Abstract

Fossil fuel subsidies are a key barrier for economic development and climate change mitigation. While the plunge in international fuel prices has increased the political will to introduce fossil fuel subsidy reforms, recently introduced reforms may risk backsliding when fuel prices rebound − particularly if they fail to address the underlying mechanisms that create demand for low fossil fuel prices. Extant literature has mostly focused on the consequences of fossil fuel subsidies, including their economic or environmental impact, and