Hindrance of sustainable development by government subsidies Overconsumption through virgin materials subsidies Public subsidization of environmental pollution
Incidence:
The USA subsidizes conventional energy forms several times more than new, renewable, and non-polluting forms. Subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear energy amounted to many billions of dollars a year during the 1980s, whereas support for renewables dwindled to $114 million. Globally, subsidies that foster the overuse of soils, water, timber, pesticides, and land resources are estimated exceed $1 trillion a year, or almost one twentieth of the global economy.