The First Conference for the Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels
At COP30, the Governments of Colombia and the Netherlands announced that they will co-host the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. The announcement was made by Colombia’s Minister of Environment, Irene Vélez Torres, and the Netherlands’ Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Climate Policy and Green Growth, Sophie Hermans. The initiative was endorsed by a broad coalition of countries, including the 25 signatories of the Belém Declaration on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, which calls for accelerating efforts to implement the existing commitment to transition away from fossil fuels.
- Overcoming economic dependence, transforming supply and demand, and boosting international cooperation are guiding the Conference towards concrete decisions with more than 50 participating countries.
- One of the main results of the Conference is to define clear political, scientific and institutional paths to give continuity to the process, move towards a second edition and consolidate long-term governance agreements.
Santa Marta (Colombia), April 24, 2026 (#BeyondFossilFuels) – Over the next six days, Colombia, together with the Netherlands, is convening in Santa Marta more than 50 countries from the Global North and South, strategic actors that reflect the diversity of the fossil fuel supply chain, which together represent about a fifth of production and almost a third of consumption worldwide, as well as more than 2,600 organizations from different sectors and regions, within the framework of the First Conference for the Transition beyond Fossil Fuels.
This international meeting seeks to advance concrete actions to reduce dependence on oil, gas and coal, in accordance with scientific evidence and global climate goals.
“We currently have confirmation from 56 countries with a very significant continental distribution: nearly a third of these representatives come from Europe, 20% from Latin America and the Caribbean, 16% from Africa, 12% from Asia, 15% from Oceania, as well as from the Pacific Islands and Australia. We also have representatives from United Nations agencies and the presidencies of COP30 and COP31,” highlighted the acting Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Irene Vélez Torres.
National and subnational governments, academia, indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, the private sector, parliamentarians, unions, peasant communities and civil society form an unprecedented space that puts life and the protection of biodiversity at the center of decisions.
“It is truly exciting to begin the transition away from fossil fuels on a large scale. With more than 50% of global GDP represented at this Conference, this group has the collective capacity to turn those five words into concrete actions. At a time of increasing volatility in the fossil fuel market, there is no better time to begin the transition away from fossil fuels, reducing climate impact, strengthening energy independence, and boosting green economic growth,” said Van Veldhoven, Minister of Climate and Green Growth of the Netherlands.
The Conference is a platform that articulates work around three pillars: overcoming economic dependence, transforming supply and demand, and promoting international cooperation and climate diplomacy, with the purpose of translating these approaches into measures applicable in countries and their territories.
From April 24 to 27, participants will work on consolidating proposals developed through a prior process of written contributions and global virtual dialogues. These will be presented to the high-level segment on April 28 and 29, with the participation of ministers and international leaders.
Progress from the different sectors
The contributions gathered so far reveal common ground, but also the diverse realities from which this challenge is being addressed. Among the topics that have shaped the discussion are the diversification of economies, strengthening capacities in local areas, guaranteeing decent work during transition processes, and the need for improved financing mechanisms and international cooperation.
This landscape is also reflected in the diversity of actors present at the Conference, which brings together a broad network of academic institutions and civil society organizations with a presence in countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, along with international organizations such as Child Rights International Network and Our Grandchildren's Climate. In addition, 65 parliamentarians from 35 countries and companies such as BYD, Fortescue, the International Renewable Energy Agency, Unilever, and the We Mean Business Coalition are contributing perspectives from different sectors and contexts.
A turning point for global climate action
This meeting comes at a crucial moment for global climate action. Following the agreements reached at COP28, which recognize the need to move towards a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, a gap persists between commitments and their implementation. While investment in clean energy continues to grow, the production and financing of fossil fuels are also increasing, reinforcing the urgency of aligning economic and political decisions with climate goals and the best scientific evidence.
In this context, the Conference seeks to promote concrete results that contribute to closing this gap. These include the creation of a scientific panel to guide implementation, a monitoring process among countries to advance coordinated actions, and a report by the co-hosts outlining the main pathways for the transition, in conjunction with international processes such as COP30.
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