Nearly 60 Nations Agree on Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Roadmaps at Colombia Summit

Nearly 60 nations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, this week for the first international conference dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels. Participants agreed to develop national roadmaps for phasing out oil, gas, and coal, aiming to accelerate a shift toward renewable energy.

The summit, held outside the UN framework, involved 57 to 59 countries representing about 30% of global GDP. The conference concluded on Wednesday, with attendees including major oil producers such as Canada and Norway. Discussions focused on practical steps for reducing fossil fuel dependence, including regulations and funding programs.

France presented a plan to phase out coal by 2030, oil by 2045, and gas by 2050.

The gathering occurred amid soaring oil and gas prices following US-Israel attacks on Iran, marking the second such crisis in five years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These events have led to higher energy and food costs, inflation, and debt burdens, particularly for poorer nations.

Fatih Birol, chief of the International Energy Agency, described the current crisis as bigger than all previous oil shocks combined. Birol stated that the crisis could lead to a permanent shift, with governments boosting renewables, nuclear power, and electrification.

He noted that perceptions of fossil fuel reliability would change, cutting into oil markets. Renewables overtook coal in global electricity generation last year, producing 33.8% of power compared to coal's 33%, according to the thinktank Ember.

“This is bigger than all the biggest crises combined, and therefore huge.”

Participants emphasized that renewables offer energy security and sovereignty, shielding countries from geopolitical volatility. Simon Stiell, the UN’s climate chief, said the fossil fuel crisis is supercharging the global renewables boom. Military advisers highlighted renewables as a route to national security.

Oil-importing countries discussed accelerating the switch to renewables to avoid future shocks. Oil-exporting nations, including Colombia, explored building revenue from non-fossil sources. A draft plan for Colombia envisions cutting fossil fuel use by 90% by 2050, relying mostly on private investment and public bank loans.

Major fossil fuel producers like the United States, China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia were absent from the summit. The US has worked to spoil climate diplomacy under the Trump administration. Despite this, attendees expressed hope, viewing the event as a complementary space to UN talks without fossil fuel lobby influence.

Colombia faces domestic challenges, with a presidential election at the end of May pitting ruling party candidate Iván Cepeda against far-right populist Abelardo de la Espriella, who supports increasing fracking and oil production. Other participating countries, such as the Netherlands, Brazil, and the UK, have ongoing fossil fuel expansion plans.

The conference avoided new finance pledges, noting a prior $300 billion annual commitment by 2035 from rich countries at COP29 in 2029, though the US has withdrawn its contribution. Suggestions included diverting $1.5 trillion in annual fossil fuel subsidies and imposing windfall taxes on profiting companies.

Countries are expected to start drafting national roadmaps before the next conference, co-hosted by Ireland and Tuvalu early next year. These plans aim to attract investors and ensure a fair transition for workers and vulnerable groups.

“We need three transitions: out of fossil fuels, into renewable energy for all, and into a world that cares for nature. All must be grounded in justice.”

The summit featured workshops with input from scientists, civil society, and parliamentarians, without vetoes or fractious negotiations. Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister, described it as the beginning of a new global climate democracy.

Participants called the approach historic but acknowledged it as a starting point. Claudio Angelo of the Observatorio do Clima said the process helps countries organize plans but does not immediately threaten the fossil fuel industry. Fernanda Carvalho of WWF International noted it as a bottom-up initiative centering affected communities.

Mary Robinson stressed the need for justice in the transitions. The event in coal-fueled Santa Marta highlighted the shift from fossil dependence, with locals reporting coal washing up on beaches from nearby mines.