Story perspectives

Colombia Summit Starts Fossil Phase-Out Workstreams with 60 Nations

5/1/2026

Summary

Colombia Launches Phaseout

Colombia hosted a summit launching three workstreams to phase out oil, gas and coal, with 60 countries representing 30% of GDP attending.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres said maps must cover demand and supply, calling supply a “blind spot” in pledges.
The workstreams will target phase-out plans, decarbonization and finance reform, supported by Science Panel of the Global Energy Transition, IISD and OECD.
Tuvalu and Ireland will co-host 2027 meeting.

Summary

France Unveils

France unveiled a 2050 fossil-fuel elimination roadmap, though delegates said it merely restated earlier pledges.
Nick Robins of the World Resources Institute said high borrowing costs block fossil-fuel phase-outs in the Global South.
Tzeporah Berman warned debt pressures push some countries to launch new oil and gas projects.
Patricia Suárez questioned whether Indigenous knowledge will shape the new Scientific Panel for the Global Energy Transition.

Summary

Mining Union Protests

A mining union protested outside the Santa Marta venue, chanting “More oil, less Petro.”
The U.S. State Department called the summit a bogus climate agenda, warned that abandoning reliable, affordable, secure energy is destructive, and said China, the world’s largest coal consumer, also skipped the conference with the United States.
Canada approved LNG expansion and a sovereign-wealth-fund boost while Tuvalu, next transition-conference host, announced a digital replica to offset rising seas.

History

Historical Context

After 196 parties adopted the Paris Agreement on 12 December 2015, committing to keep warming well below 2 °C and pursue 1.5 °C, the UNFCCC calls for stronger finance and periodic stocktakes. Building on that framework, Colombia’s 2024 summit led by Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres and France’s 2050 low-carbon roadmap, cited by WRI’s Nick Robins, aim to translate Paris goals into actionable workstreams.

1 of 4

Colombia Launches Phaseout

Colombia hosted a summit launching three workstreams to phase out oil, gas and coal, with 60 countries representing 30% of GDP attending.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres said maps must cover demand and supply, calling supply a “blind spot” in pledges.
The workstreams will target phase-out plans, decarbonization and finance reform, supported by Science Panel of the Global Energy Transition, IISD and OECD.
Tuvalu and Ireland will co-host 2027 meeting.

1 / 4