Governments from nearly 50 countries will gather in Colombia's Caribbean city of Santa Marta on Friday for a summit aimed at accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels. The meeting, running from April 24 to 29, is co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands and will bring together ministers, subnational governments, academics, and civil society groups. Organizers say the goal is to discuss how to move beyond oil, gas, and coal while ensuring the transition is "just, orderly, and equitable."
Space for Debate, but No Binding Commitments
The summit reflects growing frustration among some governments and advocates that decades of U.N. climate negotiations have failed to directly address fossil fuel production, the main driver of global warming. Colombia's environment minister, Irene Vélez Torres, told The Associated Press that the gathering is intended to open space for a politically sensitive debate that has long been avoided in international climate talks. Unlike formal U.N. negotiations, the meeting is not expected to produce binding commitments. Instead, officials aim to generate proposals and build coalitions of countries willing to move faster on phasing out fossil fuels.
Nations from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Asia will attend, many of which play key roles in fossil fuel production or consumption. The United States and Saudi Arabia, two of the world's largest oil producers, will not participate, underscoring divisions between countries pushing for a faster transition and those more closely tied to fossil fuel interests. Under the Paris Agreement, countries set their own emissions targets, meaning no international process can compel governments to phase out fossil fuels.
A Push for Fossil Fuel Free Zones
Some advocates are promoting the idea of "fossil-free zones" — areas where oil, gas, and coal extraction would be off-limits, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions. Andrés Gómez of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative said such zones turn global climate goals into concrete geographic decisions. Indigenous leaders involved in the process say they are pushing governments to adopt fossil-free zones as part of their transition plans. Juan Carlos Jintiach, executive secretary of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, said that for Indigenous peoples, stopping fossil fuel extraction is essential to defending their territories and governance systems. Analysis by advocacy groups shows that oil and gas concessions already overlap with vast areas of tropical forest and Indigenous territories.
Geopolitical Tensions and Energy Shocks Complicate the Transition
The conference comes amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, including the war in Iran, which has disrupted global energy markets and threatened supply through the Strait of Hormuz. The resulting price spikes are already affecting people far beyond energy markets. Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and a leading climate justice advocate expected to attend, said oil prices move straight into people's lives, hitting the most vulnerable hardest while oil companies reap windfall profits. Colombia's environment minister Vélez argued that such instability should accelerate, not delay, the transition, calling for a radicalization of the green agenda.
Some analysts warn that supply shocks could push countries to increase fossil fuel production in the short term, even as they commit to long-term climate goals, highlighting the tension between energy security and climate action. This tension is particularly visible in Latin America, where many economies rely heavily on oil, gas, and mining exports. Colombia, one of the region's top oil producers and home to roughly 6% of the Amazon rainforest, depends on crude exports for a significant share of government revenue. At the same time, President Gustavo Petro's government has pledged to halt new oil exploration and push for a global phaseout of fossil fuels. Vélez acknowledged that economic and fiscal dependence is perhaps the main challenge they face.
Financial Constraints Could Slow the Shift
Financial constraints are also expected to shape discussions. Many developing countries face high levels of public debt and limited fiscal space, making it difficult to invest in renewable energy. Civil society groups say that without reforms to the global financial system, these constraints will continue to slow progress. Carola Mejía of the Latin American and Caribbean Network for Economic, Social and Climate Justice said moving away from fossil fuels requires a careful economic and energy transition plan. Gabriella Bianchini of Global Witness said the stakes go beyond climate alone, as people everywhere suffer the consequences of oil-driven conflict. She called Santa Marta a chance for governments and communities to take action toward a greener, more equitable, and peaceful world.
Observers say a key question is whether the meeting can produce a clearer political signal on an issue that has remained largely unresolved in global climate talks. Vélez concluded that the conference could be a turning point where collectively they decide to be on the right side of history.
