Colombia's Environment Minister Links Middle East Conflict to Energy Transition

Colombia's environment minister argued that the conflict in the Middle East should accelerate the shift to renewable energy, according to an interview with The Associated Press. The minister emphasized that instability in global energy markets, triggered by the war involving Iran, underscores the need to move away from oil, gas, and coal toward sources like solar, wind, and geothermal.

The statements precede a summit scheduled for April 24-29 in Santa Marta, Colombia, co-hosted with the Netherlands, involving about 50 countries.

The meeting aims to discuss moving beyond fossil fuels, serving as a political space to advance debate rather than secure binding commitments. Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases when burned, contributing to rising temperatures and extreme weather events such as floods, heat waves, and droughts.