Delegates from nearly 60 countries [1] gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the first global conference dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels.
The summit arrives as UN climate negotiations remain stalled and global energy security faces new threats. The push for a coordinated exit from oil, gas, and coal is driven by heightened supply fears following the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz and energy shocks related to Iran [1, 5].
The event took place from April 24 to April 29, 2026 [4]. Co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the conference sought to establish a framework for phasing out carbon-heavy energy sources to mitigate climate change, and reduce dependence on volatile fuel markets [2, 3].
Despite the scale of the gathering, the summit lacked participation from some of the world's largest polluters. The U.S., China, and Russia were absent from the proceedings [2].
Organizers designed the summit to act as a catalyst for action where traditional diplomatic channels have failed. By bringing together more than 50 nations [2, 5], the host countries aimed to create a coalition of the willing to accelerate the green transition, regardless of the deadlock at the United Nations [2].
Participants focused on the economic and geopolitical necessity of the transition. The discussions centered on how nations can move away from fossil fuels without triggering further energy crises, especially given the recent disruptions in global supply chains [1, 5].
“The first ever global conference dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels.”
The formation of a 'fossil-fuel exit' coalition outside of the UN framework suggests a shift toward 'minilateralism' in climate policy. By bypassing the consensus-based deadlock of the UN, a smaller group of committed nations may be able to set faster benchmarks for decarbonization, though the absence of the three largest emitters limits the summit's ability to achieve a truly global reduction in carbon output.
