Charting a Path Away from Fossil Fuels: The Santa Marta Conference

A conference dedicated to charting practical pathways for reducing global reliance on fossil fuels was held in Santa Marta, Colombia, co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands. The event, which took place from April 24 to 29, brought together representatives from 54 countries, along with subnational governments, civil society groups, and academics.

Background and Context

The conference was initiated in response to perceived slow progress within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) negotiations.

At COP28 in Dubai (2023), nations agreed to "transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems," but subsequent meetings failed to establish a detailed implementation plan. At the subsequent COP30 talks in Belém, Brazil, references to fossil fuels were removed from the final agreement following objections from oil-producing nations.

Conference Structure and Participants

The Santa Marta conference was designed as a dialogue, not a formal negotiation. The agenda included an academic conference, a people's summit, and two days of high-level government meetings. Private sector representatives were permitted to attend only if their participation was aligned with the conference's objectives.

Participating Governments

• Participants included 54 countries, representing approximately one-fifth of global fossil fuel production and one-third of global demand.
• Represented nations included EU member states, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Australia, Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Angola, Brazil, and Colombia.
• Nearly half of the participating countries are fossil fuel producers.

Notable Absentees

The world's largest fossil fuel producers—the United States, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iran, and Japan—did not attend.

Conference Priorities and Outcomes

The conference was structured around three main pillars:

1. Overcoming Economic Dependence on Fossil Fuels: Discussions focused on financing the energy transition, particularly for developing countries with high debt and limited capacity.
2. Transforming Supply and Demand: Participants discussed phasing out fossil fuel production and subsidies, scaling renewable energy, and ensuring energy security.
3. International Co-operation and Climate Diplomacy: Legal barriers to the transition, including investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) clauses, were identified as a topic for further discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Nearly 60 countries agreed to develop voluntary national "roadmaps" to end fossil fuel production and use. No specific structure or deadlines were mandated for these roadmaps.
• Colombia published a draft national roadmap and established a scientific panel to advise participating 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 main output of the conference was a report from the co-hosts, Colombia and the Netherlands.

Statements from Participants

"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

"It is implementation time, no more discussions on ambitions. 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

"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."
— Maina Talia, Tuvalu's Minister for Home Affairs, Climate and Environment

"Governments are pursuing energy transitions not solely for climate reasons but because they can be cheaper and more secure."
— Leo Roberts, Climate Nonprofit E3G

"Fossil fuel producers like Saudi Arabia have consistently opposed fossil fuel language in UN climate agreements."
— Johanna Gusman, Center for International Environmental Law

Future Plans

• A second conference is scheduled to be held in Tuvalu early next year, co-hosted by Ireland.
• The outcomes of the Santa Marta conference are expected to contribute to the development of a global roadmap to be delivered at COP31 in 2026.
• Participating governments stated they will work within the UN system to advance progress at future climate conferences.