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Peter Wooders
Senior Director, Energy
Peter Wooders is IISD's Group Director, Energy.
Based in Geneva, he has 20 years’ experience across the energy sector, with a particular specialization in electricity generation. Peter’s skills include the ability to analyze complex problems: he has developed a range of computer models including a suite of carbon market simulations covering both the EU and Kyoto systems. Peter currently contributes to various IISD’s programmes, including Trade & Climate Change, notably Border Carbon Adjustment and the GHG impacts of possible Environmental Goods & Services agreements; Global Subsidies Initiative (fossil fuels and bio-fuels); Post-2012 Architecture of GHG Agreements; Carbon Markets and Climate Change Adaptation.Initially trained as an engineer, Peter first worked in technology research with British Gas. He then spent 15 years as an Energy & Environment consultant, working on issues from energy efficiency in Hungary to the cost-benefit analysis of clean air policies in Egypt to the economics of nuclear waste disposition in the UK. His clients have included the World Bank, EBRD, various European Commission departments and a wide range of private sector companies.
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World Leaders Must Play Their Part in Rethinking Trade so It Can Help Us “Build Back Better”While the question of who will lead the WTO is important, political leaders must also renew their commitment to working together if trade is to contribute to a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient world. -
Energy Policy TrackerAre we building back better? Every Wednesday, our experts provide new analysis of support for fossil fuels and clean energy. -
How COVID-19 Could Impact the Clean Energy TransitionPeter Wooders and Ivetta Gerasimchuk met virtually to discuss the impact that COVID-19 could have on the clean energy transition, from renewables to fossil fuel subsidies. -
A Long and Winding Road: COP 25 end notesIf there is one word to sum up what turned out to be the longest Conference of Parties (COP) in UNFCCC history, it’s arguably “frustration.” Now that COP 25 has wrapped, it’s worth looking back at what was—and wasn’t—achieved. -
Raising Ambition Through Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: Greenhouse gas emissions results modelling from 26 countriesThis working paper models 26 countries and finds national average emission reductions of 6 per cent from the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. For every tonne of CO2e removed through FFSR, governments save an average of USD 93. Global emission reductions from reforms are between 6.4 and 8.2 per cent by 2050. Countries can consider the carbon reduction co-benefits from FFSR and taxation within second-generation Nationally Determined Contributions. -
Energy Efficiency and Subsidy Reform: A virtuous circleEnergy challenges are similar across the world. Fortunately, so are the solutions. In many cases, subsidy reform and energy efficiency are closely linked and mutually supportive. -
What We Can Measure, We Can Manage: Methodology for global fossil fuel subsidy reporting launchedA new report provides the first internationally agreed upon methodology to help countries increase transparency on fossil fuel subsidies. -
Measuring Fossil Fuel Subsidies in the Context of the Sustainable Development GoalsThis report provides methodological guidance for measuring fossil fuel subsidies in the context of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 12.c.1: “Amount of fossil fuel subsidies per unit of GDP (production and consumption)”. -
Improving and Refocusing Electricity Subsidies: Options for optimization in MexicoIISD is proud to partner with CONECC German-Mexican Energy Partnership on this report which identifies and evaluates options for reforming Mexico’s electricity subsidies. -
Gender-Responsive Climate ActionWhat does gender-responsive climate action look like? Expert commentary on achieving gender-responsive climate action through women’s empowerment, inclusive policy-making and other innovative practices. -
Better Datasets Urgently Needed To Understand Full Scale of Fossil Fuel Subsidies Nature magazine recently released a letter detailing how fossil fuel subsidies reform could deliver carbon emission reductions of between 1 and 4 per cent globally by 2030. This is what we think... -
A Guidebook to Reviews of Fossil Fuel Subsidies: From self-reports to peer learningThis guidebook provides a step-by-step approach to government reviews of fossil fuel subsidies. The guidebook covers the design of reviews, identification, measurement and evaluation of subsidies, via country case studies and practical tools, as a first step towards transparency and reform. -
Can Trade Help Deliver the Paris Agreement? Lessons learned from the G20This year’s G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, saw long and heated discussion on the urgency of delivering the Paris Agreement. -
Making the International Trade System Work for Climate Change: Five Ways to Address Fossil Fuel Subsidies through the WTO and International Trade AgreementsCan the international trade system be a catalyst for reforming fossil fuel subsidies (FFSs) to help relieve the burden on the public purse, reduce local and global air pollution, improve energy security and tackle climate change? -
UK is in no position to lecture Saudis on oil dependence PM Theresa May has offered to help wean Saudi Arabia off oil, but her government’s subsidies to North Sea producers are a poor model for the Middle East petrostate. -
Supporting Energy Pricing Reform and Carbon Pricing Policies Through CreditingThis study examines the role that policy crediting might play in increasing the mitigation impact of energy pricing reform and carbon pricing policies. -
Fuel Subsidies in Nigeria: There are better ways to help the poor (and the economy and the environment)The downturn in oil prices over the past year has hit Nigeria’s public budget hard. When money is tight, it seems obvious that governments should first phase out programmes that are expensive and have low benefit to their intended beneficiaries. -
Impact of fossil fuel subsidies on renewable electricity generation (webinar)This presentation from the Global Subsidies Initiative will explore in more detail the impact...
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A Financially Sustainable Power Sector: Developing assessment methodologiesThis paper explores the concept of financial sustainability and proposes a framework to analyze... -
Untangling the Subsidies Knot: A Panel Discussion of Fossil Fuel Subsidy ReformBy some estimates, Canadian governments spend as much as $2.6 billion annually on fossil fuel...
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Prioritizing Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform in the UNFCCC Process: Recommendations for short-term actionsThough many Parties to the UNFCCC have noted the climate change mitigation benefits of fossil... -
A Guidebook to Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform for Policy-Makers in Southeast AsiaThere is no one-size-fits-all strategy for fossil-fuel subsidy reform—but there are a set of... -
The Cost of Carbon Pricing: Competitiveness implications for the mining and metals industryThis report, commissioned by the International Council for Mining and Metals (ICMM), assesses how... -
Competitiveness Implications for Mining and MetalsThis paper, commissioned by the International Council on Mining and Metals, is an initial step in... -
Exposure of Chinese Exports to Border Carbon AdjustmentsChina is one of the world's largest carbon emitters and is its largest exporter, and thus must be... -
Energy Intensive Industries: Decision making for a low-carbon future - The case of steelSteel remains a ubiquitous product that is fundamental to the world economy. Greenhouse gas... -
A Guide for the Concerned: Guidance on the elaboration and implementation of border carbon adjustmentWhen governments take strong unilateral action on climate change, they will always consider... -
Reforming Fossil-Fuel Subsidies to Reduce Waste and Limit CO2 Emissions while Protecting the PoorAsia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies are estimated to have spent at least US$105...
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Energy Intensive Industries: Decision making for a low-carbon future - The case of cementThe cement industry is a major source of CO2 emissions, accounting for about 5 per cent of... -
India's Fuel Subsidies: Policy recommendations for reformThis policy brief summarizes two research papers on fossil-fuel subsidy reform in India and... -
India's Fuel Subsidies: Q & AThis factsheet provides key facts about India's fuel subsidies and a summary of policy... -
A Citizens' Guide to Energy Subsidies in NigeriaMost people in Nigeria see fuel subsidies as their share of wealth from the country's oil... -
Indonesia's Fuel Subsidies: Action plan for reformIndonesia spent IDR164.7 trillion (US$18.1 billion) subsidizing fuel products in 2011, of which... -
Subsidies or Incentives? Norway's support for upstream oil and gas. Seminar SummaryThe paper summarizes the key messages of the GSI seminar Subsidies or Incentives? Norway's... -
Renewables Readiness Assessment Country Case Study: SenegalWorking with the International Renewable Agency (IRENA), IISD has developed a methodology to... -
Renewables Readiness Assessment Country Case Study: MozambiqueWorking with the International Renewable Agency (IRENA), IISD has developed a methodology to... -
Biofuels - At What Cost? Mandating ethanol and biodiesel consumption in the United KingdomThe U.K. government is currently considering what policies will ensure it meets the European... -
TRI-CC Conference - Peter Wooders (2011) Wooders notes that cement and steel are two of the most vulnerable sectors in terms of...
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Subsidies and External Costs in Electric Power Generation: A comparative review of estimates This review highlights the paucity of consistent information and data on subsidies to... -
Subsidies to Liquid Transport Fuels: A comparative review of estimatesThis review highlights the paucity of consistent information and data on subsidies to... -
Border Carbon Adjustments: What Risk for South African Exporters?This policy brief, based on a longer analysis prepared by the IISD for South African Renewable... -
A high-impact initiative for Rio+20: A pledge to phase out fossil-fuel subsidiesWhile negotiating time is running short, the IISD believes that Rio+20—the next UN Conference on... -
Exposure Of Chinese Exports To Potential Border Carbon AdjustmentsAs growth in trade continues to outstrip growth in GDP, attention has been directed to the CO2... -
Hearing on RIO+20IISD recommends Rio+20 should focus on a few, high-impact initiatives at European Parliament...
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Exploding the myths of sectoral approaches (and renaming them sectoral approaches, agreements and measures)There is a wide range of understandings of what sectoral approaches (SAs) are, and many different... -
International sectoral approaches and agreements: case studies of the steel sector in China, India and Japan—Emerging Policy RecommendationsSteel is an essential sector if we are to control global CO2 emissions. Both the negotiating... -
A sectoral approach, agreement and mechanism (SAAM) for the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in Japan's iron and steel industryThis report outlines a sectoral approach, agreement and mechanism (SAAM) for the mitigation of... -
Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication - Enabling Conditions Supporting the Transition to a Global Green EconomyUnited Nations Environment Programme's Green Economy Initiative, in collaboration with economists... -
A How-to Guide: Measuring subsidies to fossil-fuel producersThe production of fossil fuels-oil, coal and gas-is subsidized by countries around the world. The Global Subsidies Initiative estimates that these subsidies are likely to be at least $100 billion per year. Learn more about the process of finding the necessary data and applying methodologies. -
Increasing the Momentum of Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform: A Roadmap for international cooperationThe practice of subsidizing fossil fuels is increasingly recognized as being incompatible with... -
Defining Fossil-Fuel Subsidies for the G-20: Which Approach is Best?In September 2009, leaders of the Group of Twenty (G-20) largest industrialized and developing... -
The Role of Sectoral Approaches and Agreements: Focus on the Steel Sector in China and India - Full Report and Executive SummarySectoral approaches and agreements may offer good options for greenhouse gas (GHG) emission... -
Building Fossil-Fuel Subsidy Reform: Have we got all the blocks?Over the last three months of 2009, calls for the phasing out of fossil-fuel subsidies by the G... -
Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Wind power in EgyptWind power development in Egypt has many points in its favour: Egypt's wind resource is one of... -
Options for Policy-Makers: Addressing Competitiveness, Leakage and Climate ChangeThis paper presents the options policy-makers have when addressing competitiveness and leakage... -
Greenhouse Gas Emission Impacts of Liberalizing Trade in Environmental GoodsThe environmental goods and services liberalization talks in the Doha Round of trade negotiations... -
Border Carbon Adjustment and Free Allowances: Responding to Competitiveness and Leakage ConcernsCompetitiveness and leakage concerns arise when countries implement climate change policies and... -
State of the Carbon Market: How the future market can encourage developing country participation Mitigation and adaptation will require major finance and investment, with estimates of hundreds... -
Encouraging Developing Country Participation in a Future Climate Change RegimeThis paper explores how major developing economies might become effectively engaged in a post... -
International Carbon Market Mechanisms in a Post-2012 Climate Change AgreementThis background paper provides an overview of the role and profile of international carbon market... -
The Financial Crisis and Our Response to Climate ChangeIn this commentary, IISD President and CEO David Runnalls looks at the challenge of addressing...
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