Forty-six countries, including major oil, coal and gas producers such as Canada, Australia, Brazil and Norway, have confirmed they will attend next month’s first conference on speeding up the global shift from fossil fuels, the Colombian government said on Tuesday. The summit, being held in the Colombian port city of Santa Marta from April 24-29, aims to cement an international coalition of nations committed to ending the world’s reliance on planet-heating oil, coal and natural gas.
The landmark convening will take place on 28-29 April 2026, in the port city of Santa Marta, Colombia, which plays a significant role in coal exports. The choice of venue is symbolic: hosting this summit in a major coal port, in the world’s fifth-largest coal producer, sends a powerful message: fossil-fuel-dependent nations want to end their dependence on oil, gas, and coal extraction, but doing so fairly requires unprecedented international cooperation so that no one is left behind.
Irene Vélez Torres, Minister in Charge of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, said: “Colombia is proud to host the First International Conference for the Phase-out of Fossil Fuels in 2026. This historic gathering will be a pivotal moment for the Global South to lead the charge in transforming our energy systems and addressing the intertwined crises of climate and justice.”
“The idea of the Santa Marta Conference is to have this first space in which we are completely clear that the phasing out is necessary. Because it’s not easy. No one is saying that it is easy. But if we don’t face the problems, we cannot build the solutions,” Vélez Torres told a press conference.
The summit emerges as a response to frustrations with traditional UN climate negotiations, where fossil fuel producers have repeatedly blocked stronger commitments. The announcement comes amid mounting discontent over Brazil’s Mutirão text, which omits fossil fuels entirely and includes no new climate-finance commitments — a decision vulnerable nations say undermines progress on adaptation and resilience.
Major Producers Join Coalition
Canada is the largest fossil fuel producer confirmed to attend. The country accounts for roughly 6% of global oil output and 5% of gas production, with both sectors expanding over the past decade, according to the Energy Institute. Its powerful fossil fuel industry continues to push for increased production and new export markets, particularly in Asia.
Australia will also be represented in Santa Marta as co-host of the COP31 climate summit. One of the world’s largest exporters of coal and liquefied natural gas, Australia supplies energy-hungry markets across Asia. The centre-left government led by Anthony Albanese has approved 36 new or extended fossil fuel projects since taking office in 2022, according to the Climate Council.
However, notably absent are the world’s largest fossil fuel producers and consumers, including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Russia, which together account for nearly half of global oil production. The biggest coal producers, China and India, are also not on the current list of participants.
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of Vanuatu, said: “For vulnerable nations like Vanuatu and our other Small Island States, the phase-out of fossil fuels is not merely an environmental imperative, it is an existential one. This conference represents a pivotal step towards forging a common roadmap, ensuring that no community or nation is left behind as we build a resilient, sustainable future.”
Platform for Treaty Negotiations
The Santa Marta conference is not a standalone event, but the crucial first step toward formal Fossil Fuel Treaty negotiations. The primary goal for the conference outcome is clear: the official conference outcome must acknowledge the need for negotiation of a new international treaty to regulate fossil fuels and kickstart a process for willing countries to tackle fossil fuels in parallel to the UNFCCC.
Colombia is seeking to use this year’s first global conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels to launch a permanent platform that would help a “coalition of the willing” accelerate the shift away from planet-heating coal, oil and gas beyond the UN climate process. The flagship event, due to take place in the Colombian city of Santa Marta on April 28-29, will bring together countries that recognise the urgency of the fossil fuel transition to build the political and financial means to make it viable.
Historical Context and Urgency
The initiative comes amid a global energy crisis exacerbated by ongoing conflicts. The global energy shock triggered by the Iran war could give countries the chance to build a “new geopolitical balance” by forging a coalition committed to phasing out fossil fuels, Colombian Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres said.
This announcement comes at a pivotal moment, marked by growing disconnect between global fossil fuel production plans and what is required to limit warming to 1.5°C. Government projections show fossil fuel production will exceed Paris-aligned levels by more than 120% in 2030, and by 2050, production is expected to be 4.5 times higher than what a 1.5°C pathway allows.