End harmful production subsidies and price supports resulting in over-application of fertilizers, land clearing and residue burning

Countries provide hundreds of billions of dollars per year in agriculture subsidies that encourage activities with environmentally detrimental side-effects. In particular, it is imperative that governments end harmful production subsidies and price supports resulting in over-application of fertilizers, land clearing and residue burning. They should identify these types of support and devise a reform plan, beginning with phasing out subsidies targeted at producers. They can, for example, require that support recipients undertake activities to curb emissions such as reducing synthetic fertilizer use. They can also fund new incentives for low-carbon activities using the savings from reducing environmentally harmful subsidy programs.