The first global conference on a just transition away from fossil fuels concluded on Wednesday in Santa Marta, Colombia, a coal‑export port on the Caribbean coast. Delegates highlighted new road‑maps, an expert scientific panel and the emergence of “Fossil‑Free Zones,” while announcing that Tuvalu will host the next summit in 2027.
Road‑maps
On opening day France unveiled a detailed plan to eliminate the use of all fossil fuels for energy by 2050. Analysts noted that, unlike other nations, France presented a single, comprehensive document that positions a fossil‑fuel phase‑out as a central planning principle. The announcement sparked debate in Santa Marta, with some observers pointing out that the French plan restates existing pledges under a new label. Other countries argued that they already have timelines for phasing out coal and other high‑carbon fuels, renewable‑energy targets and decarbonisation strategies for heavy industry. Leo Roberts of the E3G think‑tank emphasised that a true roadmap should be science‑based and integrate the phase‑out into all policy areas.
Scientific panel
One of the conference’s concrete outcomes was the creation of the Scientific Panel for the Global Energy Transition (SPGET). The panel, informally dubbed the “Spaghetti” group, will provide governments, cities and regions with solutions, implementation guidance and financing options for moving away from fossil fuels. Brazilian climate scientist Carlos Nobre, a leading figure in the panel, told AFP that the group will “provide all the solutions — to implement them, and to finance them.”
Fossil‑Free Zones
The concept of Fossil‑Free Zones gained traction among grassroots participants. These zones would protect ecologically critical areas—such as the Amazon, the Congo Basin and Indonesian rainforests—by prohibiting hydrocarbon exploration and extraction. According to the Earth Insight expert group, 58 protected areas worldwide could qualify. Colombia’s Environment Minister Irene Velez Torres noted that the country banned fossil‑fuel and mineral extraction in the Colombian Amazon last year to halt the expansion of the extractive frontier.
Future host
The conference passed the baton to Tuvalu, a low‑lying Pacific island nation, which will host the next summit in 2027. Tuvalu’s Climate Minister Maina Talia described the transition as a journey “from a coal port of the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.” Activists urged broader participation despite the geographical distance, warning that Pacific island states often bear a disproportionate burden in international climate fora.
The Santa Marta meeting marked the first coordinated global effort to outline practical steps for phasing out fossil fuels, setting a framework that will shape national policies and future negotiations.
