This is a presentation from the 'How can subsidies accelerate universal energy access?' IIED Debates webinar on Thursday, 22 October 2020. The online event brought together experts to explore the role of subsidies in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 – universal energy access: What are the opportunities and challenges for policymakers, the private sector and civil society? What can we learn from current and past subsidy schemes? And how can subsidies play a vital part of the COVID-19 response and recovery? This presentation by IIED and Hivos was delivered by key speaker Nipunika Perera, who is a researcher in IIED's Shaping Sustainable Markets research group. The event was hosted by IIED in partnership with Hivos and Tearfund. More information: https://www.iied.org/how-can-subsidies-accelerate-universal-energy-access