The article discusses the idea of cutting down subsidies for fossil fuels to help move towards a cleaner, low-carbon economy. The researchers explored whether removing these subsidies would actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They found that in China, even when fossil fuel subsidies were stopped in 2015, it didn't automatically lower carbon dioxide emissions. This is because without subsidies, people might switch to more polluting coal and use more energy, so extra strategies are needed to truly decrease emissions and work towards a greener economy. Similar challenges might also be faced by other countries with fossil fuel subsidies.