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Nearly 60 Nations Agree to Voluntary National Roadmaps for Fossil Fuel Transition at Inaugural Santa Marta Conference

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Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: A New Climate Initiative Emerges

"We decided not to resign ourselves to an economy built on the destruction of life. We decided that the transition away from fossil fuels could no longer remain a slogan but must become a concrete, political and collective endeavour."
— Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia's environment minister and conference chair

The first "Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels" conference, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, concluded in Santa Marta, Colombia, with nearly 60 countries agreeing to develop voluntary national roadmaps to phase out fossil fuel production and use. The conference, which ran from April 24 to 29, aimed to initiate concrete action following frustration with the pace of UN climate negotiations, where consensus-based rules have historically limited direct debate on fossil fuels.

Origin and Context

The conference arose from frustration with the pace of UN climate negotiations. At COP28 in Dubai (2023), countries agreed to "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems," but subsequent COP meetings—including COP29 in Azerbaijan, where governments failed to reaffirm that commitment, and COP30 in Belém, Brazil—did not advance a detailed framework. The conference was announced by Colombia at COP30 and is intended to complement, not replace, UN climate conferences (COPs).

Participants and Absentees

Attending nations represent approximately one-fifth of global fossil fuel production and one-third of global energy demand. The conference brought together 54 to 60 countries, subnational governments, civil society groups, and academics.

Participants include:

  • EU member states, the UK, and Turkey (co-host of COP31)
  • Australia, Mexico, Nigeria, Angola, and Canada

Notable absentees:

  • The world's largest fossil fuel producers—the United States, China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE—did not attend
  • Iran, Japan, and other major emitters were also absent

Conference Structure

The conference was structured as a dialogue rather than a formal negotiation, comprising an academic conference, a people's summit, and two days of high-level government meetings. The main output is a report from the co-hosts structured around three pillars:

Pillar 1: Overcoming economic dependence on fossil fuels – focused on financing the energy transition, especially for Global South countries with high debt and limited capacity.

Pillar 2: Transforming supply and demand – addressed phaseout of fossil fuel production and subsidies (supply) and scaling renewable energy while ensuring energy security (demand).

Pillar 3: International co-operation and climate diplomacy – included recognition of investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) as a legal barrier to the transition; Colombia announced it would withdraw from ISDS.

Key Agreements and Commitments

  • Voluntary National Roadmaps: Nearly 60 countries agreed to develop national 'roadmaps' for ending fossil fuel production and use. No specific structure or deadlines were mandated.
  • Colombia published a draft roadmap and established a scientific panel to advise countries.
  • France became the first developed country to release a national roadmap during the conference.
  • Participants agreed to support poorer countries with expertise, scrutinize fossil fuel subsidies, and collaborate on trade and financial reform.
  • The group also agreed to coordinate with other overlapping global initiatives, such as the Clean Energy Transition Partnership and the Powering Past Coal Alliance.

"We see the roadmaps as the tool for the ambition with which they came here. There will be different speeds between countries – we should allow for this and acknowledge that countries start from a different position."
— Stientje van Veldhoven, Netherlands' minister for climate and green growth

Statements from Officials

Maina Talia (Tuvalu's minister for home affairs, climate and environment):

"We are encouraging governments and states to draft roadmaps before the next conference, because if they come without concrete roadmaps, we are losing an opportunity. But, at the end of the day, they are voluntary."

Future Conferences and Next Steps

  • A second conference is planned to be held on Tuvalu early next year, co-hosted by Ireland.
  • The Brazilian COP30 presidency will consider the conference's outcomes for a roadmap to be delivered at COP31 in 2026.
  • Participating governments stated they will work within the UN system to advance progress at COP31.

Broader Context

  • Global subsidies for fossil fuels amount to approximately $920 billion annually.
  • Renewable energy sources exceeded global demand for electricity in 2025 for the first time, according to analysis from energy think tank Ember.
  • A recent UN report indicates current emissions pledges would reduce emissions by only 12% by 2035, far below the 50% reduction scientists say is needed to limit warming to 1.5°C.
  • Scientists suggest that the world will likely breach the 1.5°C limit within a decade, but accelerating transitions away from fossil fuels could allow a return from overshoot.
  • The price of oil rose due to conflict in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a transit point for about one-fifth of global oil and LNG.