About 60 governments, including Nigeria, Brazil, Germany and Canada, have begun the first international meeting dedicated to discussing the phaseout of fossil fuels, as the Iran war continues to disrupt global oil and gas markets and push prices higher.
The two-day gathering in Santa Marta, Colombia, which opened on Tuesday, brings together ministers and senior officials to focus on practical steps aimed at shifting economies away from fossil fuels, rather than negotiating new global emissions targets.
Unlike traditional United Nations climate summits, the conference is designed to bypass lengthy negotiations and instead prioritise actionable pathways for energy transition.
Delegates are meeting in Santa Marta, one of Colombia’s major coal-exporting hubs, where the country’s heavy reliance on energy exports underscores the complexity of the transition debate.
The meeting has drawn participation from fossil fuel producers such as Canada, Norway, Australia, Nigeria, Angola and Brazil, alongside energy-consuming regions including the European Union, Turkey and Vietnam, as well as small island states vulnerable to climate change.
However, some of the world’s largest emitters, including the United States, China, India and major oil-producing Gulf states, are not present at the talks.
The conference follows growing concerns that geopolitical tensions, particularly the US-Israel attacks on Iran, have worsened instability in global energy markets, reinforcing arguments for a gradual shift away from fossil fuels.
Climate envoy Rachel Kyte said participants appeared more open to discussing transition policies without revisiting fundamental debates about whether such a shift is necessary, describing the atmosphere as more constructive than previous climate negotiations.
As officials arrived, climate activists and Indigenous groups staged protests in Santa Marta, calling for an end to fossil fuel dependence in a city where coal shipments remain a visible part of daily life.
While the conference is not expected to produce binding agreements, it is considering policy proposals that include limiting or halting new fossil fuel exploration and infrastructure expansion.
A scientific panel advising the talks has also urged governments to examine options for phasing out new fossil fuel projects and reforming subsidies that currently favour carbon-intensive energy over renewable alternatives.
Research presented alongside the talks suggests governments continue to spend significantly more on fossil fuel support than on clean energy investment, highlighting a major gap in global transition efforts.
Experts warn that despite growing renewable energy deployment, the pace of change remains insufficient to limit long-term temperature increases, with existing fossil fuel reserves alone enough to push global warming well beyond internationally agreed safety thresholds.
Brazilian scientist Carlos Nobre, speaking at the conference, said there is no justification for new fossil fuel exploration, arguing that continued expansion would lock in higher global temperatures and deepen climate risks.
He noted that even without new exploration, already discovered reserves could still drive significant warming by mid-century if consumed.
Scientists also caution that the world has already warmed significantly above pre-industrial levels and is approaching critical thresholds where irreversible environmental damage could occur, including loss of coral reefs and major ice sheets.
