Recent estimates of global fossil fuel subsidies for production and consumption are staggering, putting the total near US$730 billion annually or higher. In a time of economic hardship, dangerous climate change, and growing demand for reliable and cleaner sources of energy, these fossil fuel subsidies are a reckless and irrational use of taxpayer money and government investments. This is an excerpt from: Low Hanging Fruit: Fossil Fuel Subsidies, Climate Finance, and Sustainable Development by Oil Change International for the Heinrich Böll Stiftung North America with contributions from the Vasudha Foundation (India) and Greenovation (China).