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Colombia and the Netherlands will host the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.

An International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels is one of a series of international conferences for planning a phase-out of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) in an effort to reduce climate change, and to avoid the high prices, insecurity, volatility, conflict and instability associated with fossil fuels. These fossil fuel-related conferences complement the annual United Nations COP conferences that focus on climate change. The conferences were born of frustration with the yearly United Nations climate conferences (COP, Conference of the Parties) that began in 1995. At COP conferences, all countries must agree on the language of any agreement, so fossil fuel producing countries can oppose given language in the text and energy-rich nations can derail efforts to slow fossil fuel use. COP conferences traditionally focus on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, rather than directly addressing fossil fuel production. Greenhouse gas emissions from military operations, such as those in Ukraine (2022–) and Iran (2026), are not accurately accounted for under the 2015 Paris Agreement that was negotiated at COP 21. At COP28 (2023), countries agreed to transition away from fossil fuels, but did not agree on how. At COP 30 (2025), 80 countries supported phasing out fossil fuels but the conference ended without a plan. The conference’s organizer, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, describes itself as “alliance of nation-states and civil society working to secure a global just transition from coal, oil and gas”. The conferences’ focus on fossil fuels complements, but does not replace, the work of COP climate change conferences.

The First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels—also called The Santa Marta Conference—was held from 24–29 April 2026 in Santa Marta, Colombia. The conference was co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, with 57 countries participating. Participating countries generate about one-third of global economic activity, with almost all participating nations being democracies. Representatives from indigenous groups, civil society, youth, and subnational authorities such as California also participated. The United States (the largest oil and gas producer and largest consumer of oil) and China (the largest consumer of coal) did not participate. Colombian environment minister Irene Vélez Torres said that, to avoid rehashing COP 30 debates, countries including China, Russia and the US were not invited. A “science pre-conference” attended by 400 global academics from 24–25 April conceived a scientific panel designed to quickly provide country-specific analyses to nations wanting to accelerate their transition. The scientific panel was seen as necessary to combat the climate and energy disinformation populating the media. The next day involved a meeting for subnational governments, parliamentarians and other stakeholders. Finally, a high-level segment for ministers and climate envoys was held on 28–29 April. The conference’s format was less formal than that of COP conferences. At the 2026 conference, Tuvalu and Ireland announced they would co-host the next conference on the Polynesian island of Tuvalu, which is facing rising sea levels.

Links:
First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

Takeaways on the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

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