Subsidized natural resource consumption

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.

1. Unsustainable consumption patterns
2. Government financing tied to exploitation of non-renewable resources

1. Perverse environmental subsidies

1. Unsustainable livelihoods
2. Unconstrained exploitation of natural resources
3. Resource depletion
4. Resource consumption exacerbated by price distortions
5. Overdependence on government subsidies
6. Natural resource depletion due to high-level consumption
7. Lack of incentive to care for community property
8. Inadequacy of economic accounting systems

1. Inequitable distribution of public subsidies
2. Economic dependence upon socially undesirable activities
3. Dependence of government revenue on inappropriate policies
4. Perverse environmental subsidies

1. Uncoupling economic growth from growth in resource use
2. Reducing public subsidization of environmental pollution
3. Providing government subsidies
4. Protesting unsound public spending
5. Hindering sustainable development
6. Exposing public subsidization of environmental pollution
7. Ensuring environmental management of privatization

1. Pollution
2. Hindrance