European countries spend billions a year on fossil fuel subsidies, survey shows

Survey of 11 European countries reveals huge government subsidies to the transport sector and for fuels such as gas

Governments of 11 European nations are providing subsidies totalling more than 80bn a year to fossil fuel industries, green campaigners have claimed.

Transport fuels account for the lion's share of the support to fossil fuels. Many of the 11 countries surveyed encourage drivers to use diesel as it produces less carbon per mile than petrol, despite the fuel's effects on air pollution which is particularly harmful to children. For many years, governments had incentives to prioritise the use of diesel, as it helped them meet internationally-set carbon reduction targets.