Fifty-seven nations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, to advance plans for phasing out coal, oil and gas. The meeting took place without major producers such as the United States, China, India, Russia and Saudi Arabia. It occurred against the backdrop of the Iran war and major oil supply disruptions.
The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels ran from April 24 to 29. Co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the gathering focused on practical steps rather than formal treaty talks. Ministers and envoys met in small circles with civil society and Indigenous representatives present. Officials described the format as refreshing and groundbreaking compared with traditional United Nations climate meetings.
