Full Breakdown
Santa Marta Conference Opens to Accelerate Fossil-Fuel Exit
4/26/2026, 10:32:38 PM
Core Event
From 24-29 April 2026, 50+ nations met in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the inaugural Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. Co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the summit will issue a non-binding report with steps to phase out oil, gas and coal.
Background & Context
COP28 (2023) first mentioned a fossil-fuel transition, but COP30 in Brazil (2025) dropped a road map after producer opposition. The Belém Declaration, signed by a “coalition of the willing,” spurred this minilateral effort. The Iran war’s oil-price shock has intensified urgency.
Participants
President Gustavo Petro and Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres (Colombia); Bastiaan Hassing (Netherlands); EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra; Brazil adviser Claudio Angelo; Canada spokesperson Amélie Desmarais. Nigeria attends; the United States, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia and Venezuela are absent.
Data, Statistics and Significance
Fossil-fuel CO2 emissions reached 38.1 billion tons in 2025. In 2024, fossil fuels accounted for 45 % of Colombia’s exports and 10 % of GDP. Solar-wind capacity grew from 1.5 % to 9 % of the mix (2022-2024). Pozos Colorados holds Colombia’s largest refined-product storage tank. The UN’s 2025 Emissions Gap Report projects a 2.3-2.5 °C rise this century, above the 1.5 °C target, while oil-price spikes spur renewable investment and drilling subsidies.
Official Statements & Responses
Colombian officials say summit “complements” UN talks and aims to “strengthen transitions”. EU commissioner calls it a “coalition of willing”. Canada reaffirms Paris-Agreement commitments, noting its fossil-fuel role. Dutch officials call event a venue for “open, honest conversations” on opportunities.
Criticism & Opposition
China, United States and India—emitters—were absent, as were Saudi Arabia, Russia and Venezuela. Critics warn that without commitments conference may “twiddle its thumbs”. Political uncertainty in Colombia, where opposition candidates favor oil-gas exploration, may reverse policies.
On-the-Ground Reports
At Pozos Colorados, an Ecopetrol subsidiary unveiled Colombia’s largest refined-product storage tank as exploration pauses. A gas shortage, worsened by halted drilling, has revived coal demand.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on durability of Colombia’s transition agenda after May 31 election, with some noting a “right-ward shift”. The summit’s non-binding report leaves implementation timelines unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The mere fact that the conference is happening is already a success,” — Claudio Angelo, senior policy adviser, Brazil’s Climate Observatory
- “We are not unhappy because the U.S. is not here,” — Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister
- “Countries are going into Santa Marta with the energy crisis at the top of most of their minds.” — Natalie Jones, senior policy advisor, International Institute for Sustainable Development
- “My expectation is not that this is going to deliver huge results after one conference,” — Wopke Hoekstra, EU climate commissioner
- “There’s a consensus among opposition candidates to expand oil and gas exploration, even through fracking,” — Adrián Correa, electrical engineering professor, Francisco José de Caldas University
What’s Next
Colombia and the Netherlands will publish a summary report in 2026. Brazil’s COP30 presidency will present a road map at COP31 in Antalya, Turkey, in November 2026. Debates over investor-state dispute settlement and the upcoming Colombian election will shape the transition’s trajectory.
