Fossil Fuel Subsidies

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Fossil-fuel subsidies typically provide financial support to the fossil-fuel industry. Financial benefits can take many shapes: direct payments, lower tax rates, or support to drive the cost of fossil fuels lower than their typical market price, for example. Globally, governments spend more than $500 billion a year in subsidies to the fossil fuel industry. These subsidies were generally established because fossil corporations have historically been very important to the functioning of national economies, and so it was important that they did well. In part, subsidies have also been designed to protect consumers by keeping prices low, especially during times of energy crisis. However, research shows the cost of such subsidies has been far higher than benefits, given that they rarely help those who need it most.  

Ending fossil fuel subsidies and boosting renewable subsidies in their place is vital for replacing dirty energy sources. It will require countries to make big changes to their tax codes and work across borders to eradicate this practice globally.

GAMEPLAY NOTES

Every player must discard 1 card per Temperature Band, from their hand and/or play area.

Players can reduce this effect by 1 for each Social Resilience token in their player board.

For example: 3 Temperature Bands – 2 Social Resilience = discard 1 card.

Cards discarded from the play area can come from anywhere in any stack, including the front card. If a player discards the front card from a stack, the action on the card directly beneath it becomes available.
Resilience tokens are not discarded.

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TAKE ACTION
  • Sign up to receive action alerts from non-profits organizations getting rid of fossil fuel subsidies such as Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council

  • Join a local or national campaign or group pushing for clean energy and elimination of fossil fuels. Find one near you with the Fossil Free database.