There is a growing recognition that if we are to avoid dangerous climate change, most fossil fuel reserves will need to be left in the ground. Achieving this outcome, however, will be a daunting challenge. For many countries, fossil fuel extraction and trade are central to energy security and economic development. There is also limited knowledge about climate-related policy interventions that might affect future patterns of fossil-fuel production.
Climate policy-makers, both at the domestic and international levels, have focused almost exclusively on curtailing demand for fossil fuels energy, with scant attention, until recently, to the supply side. Research by SEI and others suggests that, for economic and political reasons, effective climate change mitigation requires both demand- and supply-oriented approaches.
We need to better understand how the institutions, investments and infrastructure that support fossil fuel production can lock in dependence on fossil fuels, and identify strategies to help societies move away from such dependency. Such insights can help policy-makers, international organizations, businesses and civil society to develop more effective climate strategies.
This SEI Initiative aims to create a platform for high-quality, timely, and policy-relevant research and communications on various facets of fossil fuel development, and its implications for climate change mitigation and development. Building on ongoing SEI activities and partnerships, the initiative will take a multi-disciplinary approach, focusing on issues such as:
- emissions implications of new fossil fuel infrastructure;
- constraints on fossil fuel development (e.g. water availability, local community impacts and competing pressures);
- geopolitical dynamics of fossil-fuel interests at national and international levels;
- domestic and international policy options for inducing a shift away from economic dependence on fossil-fuel production, taking into account equity perspectives and development needs.
The initiative builds on ongoing SEI work on fossil fuel development, geopolitics, and economy and climate, which has involved extensive new research and analysis and produced several publications. The initiative also builds on SEI’s partnerships and knowledge-sharing and capacity-building activities around the world, and will engage recognized leaders on climate change mitigation, energy modelling, political economy, equity and the climate change negotiations.
Our goal is to build a thriving community of practice and to contribute to practical policy development and implementation at the national and international levels.
California has numerous options to limit oil production and send a timely and important signal on climate, according to a new analysis.
- Press Release
- Air
- 27 February 2018
- SEI US
- California
- United States
- English
Ending the production of coal, oil and natural gas from public lands and waters could significantly reduce CO2 emissions by the US, according to a new study.
- Press Release
- Energy
- Land
- 22 February 2018
- United States
- English
A proposed methanol plant in Washington State could increase global greenhouse gas emissions and is likely inconsistent with a low-carbon future.
- Press Release
- 6 February 2018
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Press Release
- Climate
- 8 November 2017
- English
- Press Release
- 2 October 2017
- SEI US
- English
- Press Release
- Economy
- Climate
- 19 September 2017
- SEI US
- Norway
- English
Norway has some of the most ambitious emissions policies in the world, but is opening oil fields that cannot pay back in a safe climate future.
- Perspective
- Climate
- Energy
- 29 March 2017
- SEI US
- Norway
- English
A Bureau of Ocean Energy Management report shows ceasing new Arctic and Gulf of Mexico drilling could decrease global CO2 by over 2 billion tonnes cumulatively.
- Perspective
- Climate
- Governance
- Energy
- 30 January 2017
- SEI US
- United States
- English
SEI and Earth Track finds that at 50 USD per barrel, federal and state incentives are decisive in the economic viability of 45% of new crude oil resources.
- Feature
- 10 January 2017
- SEI US
- English
- Marion Davis
The past decade has seen the rise of the "keep-it-in-the-ground" movement. What influence will it have on climate policy?
- Perspective
- Climate
- Governance
- 18 December 2017
- SEI US
- English
- Georgia Piggot
While some of the political dynamics of the coal sector are very specific to Colombia, there are important lessons for transitions away from coal extraction.
- Perspective
- Climate
- 28 November 2017
- SEI Stockholm
- Colombia
- English
- Claudia Strambo
Leaders need to start addressing coal, oil and gas production as well as greenhouse gas emissions to prevent dangerous climate change.
- Perspective
- Climate
- Energy
- 8 November 2017
- SEI US
- English
- Georgia Piggot
- Peter Erickson
Can the international trade system reform fossil fuel subsidies to relieve costs, reduce pollution, improve energy security and tackle climate change?
- Perspective
- Climate
- Energy
- Governance
- 20 June 2017
- SEI Oxford
- English
- Peter Wooders
- Cleo Verkuijl
Efforts to slow the expansion of fossil-fuel infrastructure can forestall entrenched interests and emissions until more far-reaching policies are in place.
- Perspective
- Climate
- Energy
- 3 January 2017
- SEI US
- Arctic
- Canada
- United States
- English
- Peter Erickson
The Marrakech talks may not have tackled the gap between global climate goals and fossil fuel production, but governments can show leadership now.
- Perspective
- Climate
- Energy
- 21 November 2016
- SEI Oxford
- SEI US
- Australia
- Norway
- Canada
- English
This brief explains the rationale for considering fossil fuel supply under the UNFCCC Talanoa Dialogue, and highlights available policy options.
- Brief
- Climate
- 19 March 2018
- SEI US
- SEI Oxford
- English
- Cleo Verkuijl
- Georgia Piggot
- Michael Lazarus
- Harro van Asselt
- Peter Erickson
This brief examines how California could limit the production of its principal energy production and the resulting implications for global GHG emissions.
- Brief
- Energy
- Climate
- 27 February 2018
- SEI US
- California
- United States
- English
- Peter Erickson
- Michael Lazarus
This article examines the emissions implications of a cessation of new leases for fossil fuel extraction on U.S. federal lands and waters.
- Journal article
- Climate
- 21 February 2018
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Peter Erickson
- Michael Lazarus
This discussion brief explores the possibility of a “climate test” for new industrial development by focusing on a case study in the US State of Washington.
- Brief
- 6 February 2018
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Peter Erickson
- Michael Lazarus
Analysis of the political factors that shape subsidies to coal extraction in Colombia, and why and how those subsidies have been promoted
- Working paper
- Energy
- Climate
- 19 January 2018
- SEI Stockholm
- Colombia
- English
- Claudia Strambo
- Aaron Atteridge
This journal article describes the growing movement to restrain fossil fuel development and explores the role it plays in climate change policy-making.
- Journal article
- Governance
- 8 December 2017
- SEI US
- English
- Georgia Piggot
How can countries phase-down fossil fuel production within the current architecture of the Paris Agreement?
- Brief
- Climate
- 8 November 2017
- Read in 10 minutes
- SEI US
- English
- Harro van Asselt
- Peter Erickson
- Michael Lazarus
- Georgia Piggot
- Journal article
- Energy
- Climate
- 2 October 2017
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Adrian Down
How can countries more explicitly address the phasing out of fossil fuel production within the current architecture of the Paris Agreement?
- Working paper
- Climate
- Energy
- 22 September 2017
- SEI Oxford
- SEI US
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Harro van Asselt
- Georgia Piggot
This discussion brief evaluates how two tax support measures will boost future oil and gas production in Norway, increasing the country’s fossil fuel exports an
- Brief
- 18 September 2017
- Read in 5 minutes
- SEI US
- English
- Peter Erickson
- Adrian Down
This discussion brief examines the political economy of large-scale coal production in Colombia and its implications for a transition away from coal.
- Brief
- Energy
- 5 July 2017
- SEI Stockholm
- Colombia
- English
- Claudia Strambo
Este resumen de discusión examina la economía política de la extracción de carbón a gran escala en Colombia y sus implicaciones para la transición energética.
- Brief
- Energy
- 31 July 2017
- SEI Stockholm
- Colombia
- Spanish
- Claudia Strambo
- Journal article
- Climate
- 24 March 2017
- SEI Oxford
- English
- Harro van Asselt
The implications of the Paris Agreement, and Norway’s own pledges under it, for oil production, considering the break-even cost of developing different fields
- Brief
- Climate
- 14 March 2017
- SEI US
- Norway
- English
- Peter Erickson
- Adrian Down
The effect of subsidies on U.S. oil production, focusing on fields that have been discovered but not yet developed, and the climate implications.
- Working paper
- Energy
- Climate
- 10 January 2017
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Adrian Down
- Brief
- Climate
- Energy
- 10 January 2017
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Adrian Down
- Brief
- Governance
- Energy
- Climate
- 1 December 2016
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Adrian Down
- Brief
- Climate
- 25 September 2016
- SEI US
- English
- Sivan Kartha
- Michael Lazarus
- Kevin Tempest
- Brief
- Climate
- Governance
- Energy
- 4 August 2016
- SEI Oxford
- Germany
- English
- Stefan Bößner
- Brief
- Climate
- 3 May 2016
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Working paper
- Climate
- 3 May 2016
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Working paper
- Climate
- 21 October 2015
- SEI US
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Kevin Tempest
- Journal article
- Climate
- 6 October 2015
- SEI US
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Brief
- Climate
- Energy
- 23 September 2015
- SEI US
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Kevin Tempest
- Journal article
- Climate
- 27 August 2015
- SEI US
- English
- Sivan Kartha
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Kevin Tempest
- Brief
- Energy
- Climate
- 6 July 2015
- SEI Stockholm
- SEI Oxford
- SEI US
- SEI Africa
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Marion Davis
- Harro van Asselt
- Report
- Energy
- Climate
- 27 May 2015
- SEI Stockholm
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Kevin Tempest
- Per Klevnäs
- Working paper
- Climate
- Governance
- Economy
- 6 October 2014
- SEI Oxford
- English
- Harro van Asselt
- Brief
- Energy
- Economy
- Climate
- 16 January 2014
- SEI US
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Kevin Tempest
- Brief
- Climate
- Energy
- 28 October 2013
- SEI US
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Brief
- Energy
- Climate
- 27 September 2013
- SEI US
- United States
- English
- Michael Lazarus
- Peter Erickson
- Center Director
- SEI US
- Senior Research Fellow
- SEI Oxford
- Senior Research Fellow
- SEI Stockholm
- Research Associate
- SEI Asia
- Staff Scientist
- SEI US
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- Research Fellow
- SEI Stockholm
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- Senior Scientist
- SEI US
- Programme Manager
- SEI Asia
- Staff Scientist
- SEI US
- Research Associate
- SEI Stockholm
- Research Fellow
- SEI Oxford
- Communications Officer
- SEI US
- Communications
Second conference set for 24-25 September 2018 at The Queen’s College, Oxford, UK
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion is a top priority for climate and energy policies. However, such policies have yet to put fossil fuel use on a trajectory consistent with keeping warming well below 2°C, let alone 1.5°C. Recognizing this shortcoming, policy-makers, researchers and civil society actors have begun to consider and enact a new suite of complementary policies and actions that aim to phase down fossil fuels in a more comprehensive way – by also limiting fossil fuel extraction.
The International Conference on Fossil Fuel Supply and Climate Policy explores the many opportunities for, and challenges of, these supply-side strategies for limiting coal, oil, and gas, recognizing that many countries rely on fossil fuel extraction and trade for their energy security, economic development, and political influence.
The first conference, held in 2016, sparked new ideas, research and connections among finance specialists, industry representatives, international organizations, civil society, and academic researchers. This second two-day conference will build on the growing interest in whether and how climate policy should seek to limit the supply of fossil fuels. It will bring together researchers and practitioners to reflect on lessons learned and continue the discussion on how policies, plans and investment decisions on fossil fuel extraction and trade can be more consistent with long-term climate goals, and how a just transition away from the fossil fuel economy can be secured.
Conference Partners
On March 14, 2018, SEI and Grupo Laera hosted a workshop in Bogota, Colombia on coal transitions.
The workshop, held under the auspices of SEI’s Fossil Fuels and Climate Change Initiative, was titled, “Dialogues: preparing for a global decline in coal consumption. Building resilient regional economies in times of transition.” It aimed to generate debate on an issue that has attracted little attention in public and academic debates so far in Colombia: how to prepare for a scenario in which coal production declines?
Building on insights from other parts of the world that have experienced coal transitions or other types of mining closure, the workshop explored the challenges that lie ahead as regions start to comprehend what a future decline in coal production might mean for decisions about regional development policies. It also explored the role of different actors in supporting coal transitions and building socio-economic resilience in coal-producing areas.
The workshop’s participants included a wide range of public officials from the national and subnational levels, researchers, and representatives of civil society organizations, as well as aid agencies and private foundations.
- Research Associate
- SEI Stockholm