Full Breakdown
Santa Marta Conference Launches Global Fossil-Fuel Phase-out Dialogue
4/28/2026, 2:09:58 AM
Background & Context: Stalled UN Climate Talks and the Belém Declaration
Since the 2023 COP28 summit, where nations pledged to “transition away from fossil fuels” without a timetable, progress has been blocked by consensus rules that allow oil-producing states to veto substantive language. In November 2025, a coalition of countries—including Australia, Brazil and the European Union—adopted the Belém Declaration, calling for coordinated phase-outs of coal, oil and gas. Frustrated by the impasse, Colombia and the Netherlands organized a separate summit to move beyond debate and focus on implementation.
Core Event: Santa Marta, Colombia Hosts First International Fossil-Fuel Phase-out Summit
From 24 to 29 April 2026, the coastal city of Santa Marta hosted the inaugural “Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.” Co-hosted by Colombia’s Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres and the Netherlands’ Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven, the meeting gathered roughly 60 governments—among them Brazil, Germany, Canada and Nigeria—representing about half of the world’s population, a fifth of global fossil-fuel production and a third of demand. The agenda emphasized practical tools such as financial instruments, regulatory incentives and planning mechanisms, explicitly avoiding new binding targets.
Key Figures & Groups
- Irene Vélez Torres – Colombian environment minister and conference host.
- Stientje van Veldhoven – Dutch climate minister, co-organiser.
- Carlos Pascual – Senior VP, S&P Global, commentator on the energy crisis.
- Luene Karipuna, Patricia Suárez, Gregório Mirabal – Indigenous leaders from Brazil, the Colombian Amazon and Venezuela, respectively.
- Angela Picciariello – Senior researcher, International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
- Nikki Reisch – Director, Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL).
- Tzeporah Berman – Chair, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative.
- Bill McKibben – Climate campaigner.
Data & Statistics
- 2024 global fossil-fuel subsidies totaled US $1.2 trillion, compared with US $254 billion for clean-energy support (IISD).
- The conference featured more than 50 countries, dozens of sub-national governments and thousands of civil-society representatives.
- Canada arrived as the largest oil-and-gas producer among attendees, while the United States, China, Russia and Saudi Arabia were absent.
Why It Matters: Energy Security, Climate Change and Indigenous Rights
The Iran-Israel conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have driven oil prices to historic highs, exposing the vulnerability of economies dependent on imported fuels. Organisers argue that reducing reliance on fossil fuels strengthens both economic stability and climate mitigation. Simultaneously, Indigenous delegates warned that the shift to renewables could trigger new extractive pressures for critical minerals, threatening lands and livelihoods.
Official Statements & Responses
Van Veldhoven stressed that the summit “is about sharing how to phase out oil and gas, not negotiating ambitions,” linking energy security to reduced geopolitical risk. Vélez Torres described the gathering as a “new power” that advances multilateralism rooted in people rather than industry lobbying, and said its outcomes will be submitted to upcoming COP30 and COP31 processes. Pascual noted that the current energy crisis “reinforces the case for phasing out oil and gas to bolster economic and energy security.”
Criticism & Opposition
Indigenous leaders highlighted the paradox of replacing fossil-fuel extraction with mineral mining for wind turbines, solar panels and batteries. Patricia Suárez warned that “we can’t cut out one problem just to open the door to another,” urging a simultaneous ban on fossil-fuel use and mineral extraction in the Amazon. Environmental NGOs pointed to the continued dominance of producer nations at the table and the absence of the world’s largest emitters, limiting the conference’s global reach.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When extractivists move in, they don’t just destroy nature, but also our way of living,” — Luene Karipuna, Indigenous leader, Amapá, Brazil
- “The transition should be towards standing forests and fresh water,” — Gregório Mirabal, Kurripako Indigenous People, Venezuela
- “Angela Picciariello, senior researcher at the IISD, said: “Governments need to stop making the same mistakes and expecting different outcomes.” — Angela Picciariello, IISD senior researcher
- “Sunlight travels 93m miles to reach the Earth – none of them through the strait of Hormuz.” — Bill McKibben, climate campaigner
- “The fact that this conference is taking place is really to mark a turning point,” — Nikki Reisch, CIEL director
What’s Next
A second summit is slated for the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, aiming to build on Santa Marta’s “people’s summit” document and press for a fossil-fuel-free roadmap at the next UN climate conference. Organisers intend to channel the Santa Marta outcomes into the COP30 and COP31 agendas, seeking to translate practical proposals into formal international commitments.
