Introduction
The governments of Colombia and the Netherlands presented the final report of the 1st Conference on the Transition away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF-1), held in late April in the Colombian city of Santa Marta. The presentation took place after the Global Summit on Energy Transition and Electrification of the London Climate Week (LCAW), on Wednesday (23/6), and coincided with the formal delivery of the document to the presidency of COP30, which coordinates the global roadmap beyond oil, fossil gas, and coal.
The Report of the Santa Marta Conference
The report of the Santa Marta Conference brings five central innovations:
- Transition as economic transformation and energy sovereignty: the document presents the transition not only as a climate necessity but also as an economic transformation and energy sovereignty agenda, which requires structural changes in the economic and governance systems that sustain dependence on extractive activities, especially in the Global South.
- Coherence between climate and economy: the report highlights that climate ambition cannot advance in isolation, and that it is necessary to align the processes of the UNFCCC with international debates on trade, debt, taxation, financing, and investment, ensuring at the same time an approach based on rights and adapted to territorial realities.
- Open coalition for implementation: the process created a flexible coalition for implementation that brings together 57 nations, 14 thematic chapters of stakeholders, and three work fronts aimed at transforming ambition into concrete action.
- From diagnoses to solutions: the report identifies concrete paths to accelerate a just and orderly transition, including national transition roadmaps based on science; reforms in the international financial architecture to address the weight of debt and fossil fuel subsidies; and strategies to decarbonize trade balances.
- Renewal of multilateralism: the Santa Marta process is presented as a demonstration that diverse actors can still converge around common solutions, strengthening trust, solidarity, and cooperation in a fragmented geopolitical context.
The Creation of Fossil Fuel-Free Zones
The report also addresses the creation of fossil fuel-free zones (FFZ), proposed by civil society organizations. The document recognizes FFZ as a tool and a possible first step for governments to implement a just energy transition and the planned decline of fossil fuel production, alongside more consolidated measures, such as moratoriums for new licenses and plans for closing production areas.
Conclusion
TAFF-1 was a multistakeholder international process, co-organized by Colombia and the Netherlands, which brought together governments, civil society, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector, academia, and youth from 57 countries. Its objective was to shift the debates from commitment to implementation, creating a space for cooperation to accelerate a just, orderly, and equitable transition, compatible with the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.
With such a broad coalition of countries and representatives from the private sector, civil society, and other segments, it is a group capable of generating significant impact. The countries gathered in Colombia represent around 30% of global energy demand and 20% of global supply. The report will serve as input for both the second conference, in Tuvalu, in 2027, and the COP31 process.
Source / Reference
Original URL: https://climainfo.org.br/2026/06/23/colombia-e-paises-baixos-apresentam-relatorio-final-de-santa-marta/