While much of the global climate conversation revolves around ambitious pledges and distant targets, a smaller and determined group of countries is beginning to shift attention towards implementation. This transition reflects a growing recognition that climate goals cannot be achieved through promises alone. The world must now confront the complex realities of turning commitments into action.
Set to take place in Santa Marta, Colombia, from April 24 to 29, 2026, and co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and Netherlands, the conference builds on discussions at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belém, Brazil, last year.
In the aftermath of COP30, the Mutirão decision – its central outcome – drew criticism for failing to include any direct reference to phasing out of ossil fuels. In response, a coalition of 24 countries came together to issue the Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels. Through this declaration, they called for coordinated global efforts to move away from fossil fuels, while ensuring that climate action remains grounded in scientific evidence and equity or principle.
From Phasing Out of Fossil Fuels to Future: Why the Meeting Matters
The upcoming conference is structured to encourage broad and inclusive participation. The first segment, scheduled from April 24 to 27, will feature stakeholder-led dialogues involving academia, civil society organisations, the private sector, workers, subnational governments, and a People’s Assembly. This inclusive approach recognises that the transition away from fossil fuels is not merely a technical or political challenge – but it is a societal transformation.
The second segment, to be held on April 28 and 29, will bring together ministers, senior government representatives, and the key spokespersons from different stakeholder groups. Discussions are organised around three thematic pillars: overcoming economic dependence on fossil fuels, transforming energy supply and demand systems, and advancing international cooperation and climate diplomacy.
As of March 30, 2026, a total of 45 countries – alongside Colombia and the Netherlands – have confirmed their participation in the conference and in launching a coalition dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels. Additionally, more than 2,600 organisations have expressed interest in engaging with the process. Notably, while some organisations from India are expected to participate, the country itself does not appear among the official participants. This absence is particularly striking given India’s current energy trajectory and position as one of the world’s largest coal producers and its ongoing reliance on fossil fuel-based power generation, despite significant growth in non-fossil energy capacity.
A Shift in Global Climate Priorities
For years, international climate forums have been defined by sweeping commitments and long-term aspirations. But, the global climate discourse is now entering a decisive phase. This conference signals a critical shift by placing the phase-out of fossil fuels at the very centre of climate action.
Unlike broader climate summits that span a wide array of issues, this gathering narrows its focus to a single, pressing challenge: how to transition from dependence on coal, oil, and gas to a sustainable and resilient energy future. This targeted approach is particularly significant, because there have been relatively few global forums dedicated exclusively to addressing fossil fuel transition.
While the energy transition has long been discussed in global climate forums, there have been relatively few global forums dedicated specifically to moving away from fossil fuels. This makes it the first-of-its-kind gathering to focus exclusively on transitioning away from fossil fuels. The focus matters as fossil fuels remain the largest contributors to global climate change, accounting for roughly 68 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. Without clear and decisive efforts to reduce both production and use, keeping global warming within 1.5 degrees Celsius (°C) will become increasingly difficult.
Why Fossil Fuels Remain the Core Problem
Fossil fuels lie at the heart of the climate crisis. Despite repeated commitments at global summits, the discussions at COP30 in Belém revealed a significant gap between ambition and action. The absence of explicit language on fossil fuels in the final outcome raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of current climate negotiations.
Recognising this gap, the coalition of 24 countries advanced the concept of a “just transition” – one that ensures the shift away from fossil fuels is not only scientifically sound but also socially equitable. This approach acknowledges that while the transition is necessary, it must also be fair, particularly for communities and economies that depend heavily on fossil fuel industries.
The Santa Marta conference seeks to build on this momentum by moving beyond declarations and toward implementation. It represents an important attempt to translate intent into tangible action – bridging the long-standing divide between climate ambition and real-world progress.
From Promises to Practical Challenges
Unlike traditional summits, this conference places real-world implementation at the forefront by centring the phase-out of fossil fuel. These platforms are designed not merely for discussion, but for meaningful input – feeding into reports and sectoral submissions, or recommendations that will be further refined during the in-person sessions and ultimately presented at the high-level segment.
Importantly, the structure moves beyond policymakers alone, and incorporate scientists, workers, civil society organisations, and local communities. The process leading up to the conference has been underway since February and will continue until the in-person meetings at the end of April. It includes written submissions, sectoral position papers, and a series of virtual dialogues for different stakeholder groups. The summit is organised around three central themes:
- Reducing economic dependence on fossil fuels
- Transforming energy supply and demand
- Strengthening international cooperation
This inclusive design reflects a critical truth: the energy transition is not just technological – it is deeply social, economic, and political.
Ground realities of transition: The Human Dimension of Transition
For many regions, fossil fuels are more than just an energy source – they form the backbone of local economies. Insights from coal-dependent regions such as Chandrapura in India highlight the complexity of transition. In such regions, the entire communities depend on coal mining and associated industries for their livelihoods.
The impacts of disruption are already visible. When fossil fuel industries decline, the consequences extend far beyond job losses – they ripple through local economies, affecting families, small businesses, and public services alike.
Who Gets Left Behind?
One of the most pressing concerns is the risk of exclusion. A large portion of the workforce in fossil fuel economies operates informally – outside official records or data and protection systems.
These include:
- Contract workers in mining operations
- Transport workers and daily wage laborers
- Small vendors and local service providers
If transition policies focus only on formal employment, millions could be left without support at the risk being overlooked. This raises a fundamental question: Can climate action be truly successful if it leaves the most vulnerable communities behind? A genuinely
just transition must ensure that no one is sacrificed in the name of sustainability.
The Complexity of Local Economies
Informal economies depend on transport networks, services, and supply chains. The local governments heavily depend on fossil fuel revenues. Issues like unresolved compensation, lack of stable alternative employment, and the dependence of informal and ancillary livelihoods on coal underline the complexity of transition in these regions. In several areas, these industries are not just one part of the economy but form its backbone – providing employment, supporting ancillary businesses, and contributing significantly to local revenues. This deepens dependence on fossil fuels and makes it harder, both economically and politically, to move towards transition without clear coal-dependent regions reveal the social and economic complexities of transition.
These realities make the fossil fuel phase-out a deeply sensitive issue. Transitioning too quickly without planning risks economic collapse and social unrest. Although, the focus shifts from global commitments to the practical challenges of implementation. Here, the questions remain over whether such initiatives can translate dialogue into meaningful action. Moving too slowly, however, risks irreversible environmental damage. This is the delicate balance the world must navigate.
Overcoming economic dependence on fossil fuels – becomes particularly important. A key barrier lies in the structural reliance of many regional economies on coal mining and fossil fuel-based power generation.
The Risk of “Green Inequality”
Ironically, even the shift towards renewable energy projects can create new forms of injustice. In some regions, large-scale solar and wind projects have triggered land disputes and displacement – a phenomenon often referred to as “green grabbing.” This highlights an important lesson: A low-carbon future is not automatically a fair one.
Without careful planning and inclusive governance, the clean energy transition could replicate the same patterns of exclusion and inequality that have long characterised the fossil fuel economy – only under a different label.
To prevent this, communities must be involved from the outset. Their voices, knowledge, and needs should actively shape the transition process rather than being treated as an afterthought.
Global Cooperation or Fragmentation? Convention on Climate Change.
The emergence of smaller coalitions and focused conferences also raises important questions about the future of global climate governance.
On one hand, such “minilateral” efforts can be more agile, pragmatic, and action-oriented – capable of moving faster than large, consensus-driven international negotiations under frameworks like the United Nations Framework. They risk fragmenting global cooperation at a time when unity is essential. Climate change is, by its very nature, a global challenge – one that requires coordinated action across nations, sectors, and societies. The central question remains: can these targeted initiatives complement global unity.
