In 2009, the G20 countries pledged to phase out 'inefficient' fossil fuel subsidies, which have long been seen as an obstacle to fighting climate change. But today, subsidies for oil and gas producers are at record levels -- $64 billion in 2021. It’s not just to do with the war in Ukraine.

Despite its image as a leader on climate change, the UK is listed as one of the worst offenders for government support to oil and gas producers because of its generous tax relief.
We hear from the centre of the UK’s oil and gas industry in Aberdeen, Scotland, about the difficult balance between energy security, jobs and climate change.

Presenters Graihagh Jackson and Luke Jones are joined by:

Ipek Gensu, Senior Research Fellow at Overseas Development Institute
Lord Deben, Chairman of the UK’s independent Climate Change Committee and former Secretary of State for the Environment from 1993-97
Kevin Keane, BBC Scotland’s Environment, Energy and Rural Affairs correspondent – at Aberdeen port
Fran Bell, Fiscal and Investor Relations Manager at Offshore Energy UK

Email us: theclimatequestion@bbc.com

Producer: Sophie Eastaugh
Researcher: Natasha Fernandes
Series Producer: Alex Lewis
Editor: China Collins
Sound Engineer: Tom Brignell
Production Co-ordinators: Helena Warwick Cross and Siobhan Reed

Archive: The Obama White House