The webinar marks the launch of IISD and CEEW’s latest update of energy subsidy data from FY 2017 to FY 2019. Transparency about energy subsidies is important so people can understand what support measures exist, how much they cost and how they perform with respect to stated policy objectives.

We want to acknowledge that we are organising this webinar in extraordinary circumstances, given the terrible impacts of COVID-19 on health and livelihoods in India. There are uncertain times ahead and the first priority has to be health and helping people meet their essential needs. At the same time, we cannot lose sight of ambition for a clean energy transition. We look forward to discussing what the current situation will mean for government interventions in the energy sector—and how experiences from the past two years can help inform the future.