Santa Marta Summit Aims to Accelerate Global Fossil-Fuel Phase-Out

From 27 April to 1 May 2026, Colombia and the Netherlands co-hosted the first “Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels” summit in Santa Marta, a Caribbean coal-export port. Over 50 governments—including Brazil, Germany, Canada and Nigeria—met to outline practical steps for phasing out oil, gas and coal. Organisers framed the talks as a complement to the stalled UN climate-COP process, which has lacked detailed roadmaps since the “transition away” language at COP28. The meeting was spurred by soaring energy prices after the Iran-Israel war, heightening urgency for actionable plans.

Reuters

Participants ranged from 50 to 60 governments; global fossil-fuel subsidies total about $1.5 trillion annually; African debt has doubled to over $1 trillion; current pledges cut emissions only 12 % by 2035, far short of the 50 % target.

The Guardian

Colombia’s environment ministry called the summit “a space for those who are ready to move forward.” The Netherlands said participants were “sharing how to do it” rather than negotiating new ambitions. The U.S. State Department declined to attend, labeling the agenda “a bogus climate agenda.” France presented a road map to end coal by 2027, oil by 2045 and gas by 2050, saying it will feed directly into laws and public-investment policies.

Bloomberg

U.S. officials warned that shifting to “intermittent and costly energy sources” is “destructive.” E3G’s Leo Roberts urged redirecting $1.5 trillion in subsidies to clean energy. Activists citing Tzeporah Berman and the Asian Peoples’ Movement said expanding debt makes a just transition impossible without fiscal relief. Demonstrators outside demanded debt forgiveness and Amazon protection, while workshops gave Indigenous peoples a platform.

The Guardian

Sources differ on the exact number of attendees (50 vs 60 vs 57) and on whether the summit will produce a binding treaty. No financing commitments were announced, leaving a gap between discussion and concrete support for developing-country transitions.

The Bureau of Investigative Journalism

• “Let this conference be the moment when ambition becomes action,” — Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister

NPR

• “There is inertia in the power and the economy of this archaic form of energy – fossil fuels – that lead to death.” — Gustavo Petro, President of Colombia

The Guardian

• “We have a unique opportunity to shift and move rapidly in a different direction,” — Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland

NPR

• “I have, as a scientist, never felt so encouraged.” — Johan Rockström, director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research

NPR

• “There is an expanding debt crisis in the global south. It is impossible for countries to even imagine a fossil fuel transition with such limited fiscal space.” — Tzeporah Berman, Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative

The Guardian

The dialogue will reconvene in Tuvalu in 2027, while Brazil will lead a global road-map ahead of COP31 in Turkey. Delegates hope the Santa Marta talks spur financing reforms and sector-specific policies to accelerate the worldwide phase-out of fossil fuels.

NPR