Santa Marta Conference: Latin America's Shift from Fossil Fuels

Fossil Fuels Energy Transition Climate Justice Latin America International Conference

April 30, 20265 min readLatin America

A pivotal gathering for a fossil fuel-free future in Latin America

{"results": [{"url": "https://elpais.com/america-futura/2026-04-24/santa-marta-congrega-a-los-paises-que-quieren-dejar-atras-los-combustibles-fosiles-asi-llega-america-latina-a-la-conferencia.html", "title": "Santa Marta congrega a los pa\u00edses que quieren dejar atr\u00e1s los combustibles f\u00f3siles: as\u00ed llega Am\u00e9rica Latina a la conferencia | Am\u00e9rica Futura | EL PA\u00cdS Am\u00e9rica", "author": "Mar\u00eda M\u00f3nica Monsalve S.", "summary": "Summary:\n- Event: A six-day international conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, bringing together delegates from more than 50 countries to discuss moving economies and energy systems away from coal, gas, and oil.\n- Context: The gathering arrives amid volatility in fossil fuel markets (highlighted by the Middle East conflict) and a politically sensitive moment in Latin America, with regional leadership debates in Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia.\n- Key players and positions:\n - Colombia (host): Has signaled a shift away from fossil fuels but still relies on oil; aims to balance leadership in the transition with existing exports.\n - Mexico: Recently authorized shale/fracking activities, signaling continued fossil fuel exploration alongside climate commitments.\n - Brazil: Fresh COP30 leadership role, advocating a global roadmap to abandon fossil fuels while continuing oil and gas exploration, including in the Amazon, to finance energy transition.\n - Other Latin American perspectives: Countries see potential to fill a global supply gap amid higher oil prices, but face practical challenges in ramping up production or expanding exploration.\n- Core themes: Climate-aligned energy transition, sovereignty over energy futures, investment needs in exploration and infrastructure, and the gap between official fossil fuel rhetoric and actual policy/practice.\n- Implications: The conference could shape regional strategies and financing mechanisms for phasing out fossil fuels, while domestic energy interests and volatility complicate commitments.\n\nNote: This summary focuses on the article\u2019s overarching findings and the policy/tactical tensions highlighted, relevant to understanding which nations advocate for or against accelerated fossil fuel transition and how financing and production considerations interact with climate goals."}, {"url": "https://elpais.com/clima-y-medio-ambiente/2026-04-26/cambiar-el-rumbo-de-la-historia-la-oportunidad-de-santa-marta-para-un-mundo-sin-combustibles-fosiles.html", "title": "Cambiar el rumbo de la historia: la oportunidad de Santa Marta para un mundo sin combustibles f\u00f3siles | Clima y Medio Ambiente | EL PA\u00cdS", "author": "Eva Salda\u00f1a, Javier Andaluz", "summary": "Summary:\n- The article discusses a historic opportunity in Santa Marta, Colombia (April 24\u201329, 2026) where more than 50 governments, scientists, civil society, and Indigenous peoples will convene for the Conference for a Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels. Co-organized by Colombia and the Netherlands, the event aims to map a path toward a world without oil, gas, or coal and to establish a new cooperative framework focused on financing, technology transfer, governance, and climate justice.\n- It frames the transition as a matter of geopolitics and justice: reducing fossil fuel dependence is essential for peace, sovereignty, and human rights, and current energy price volatility harms households.\n- The piece notes Spain\u2019s relatively low electricity price in the EU due to renewable deployment, but warns that 70% of Spain\u2019s total energy remains fossil-fueled, especially in transport and industry, underscoring vulnerability to fossil fuel dynamics.\n- Santa Marta is presented as a complementary pursuit to UN COP processes, with the potential to catalyze a legally binding international treaty to halt fossil fuel expansion and ensure an orderly, just transition, avoiding past colonial-era inequities.\n- The article emphasizes that the most affected and least-resourced countries (e.g., small island developing states) have long advocated for a fossil fuel treaty. The goal is to integrate a global fossil fuel phase-out into COP31 and accelerate a just transition."}, {"url": "https://elpais.com/clima-y-medio-ambiente/2026-04-28/la-conferencia-de-santa-marta-pone-en-el-punto-de-mira-los-beneficios-de-las-petroleras-estan-ganando-con-nuestra-dependencia.html", "title": "La conferencia de Santa Marta pone en el punto de mira los beneficios de las petroleras: \u201cEst\u00e1n ganando con nuestra dependencia\u201d | Clima y Medio Ambiente | EL PA\u00cdS", "author": "Manuel Planelles", "summary": "Summary:\n- The Santa Marta conference in Colombia focuses on financing the energy transition and addressing the profits of oil majors amid rising fossil-fuel prices tied to Middle East conflict.\n- Key takeaway: big oil is benefiting from global dependence on fossil fuels; strong emphasis on implementing taxes and fiscal measures to fund the transition and curb excessive profits.\n- Debates highlight: how to finance climate action, fiscal policy on oil/gas companies, debt relief for developing countries, and reforming international arbitration that favors multinationals over states.\n- Notable figures: Mariana Paoli of Oxfam stresses taxing the extraordinary profits of large oil companies as essential for resources for the transition.\n- Context: price spikes and margins in the fossil fuel sector are linked to geopolitical tensions and disruptions (notably Iran-related conflict and the wider energy market impact).\n\nRelevance to user query:\n- The article directly covers the Santa Marta conference, financier approaches to the energy transition, and calls for taxing oil profits to fund climate action; aligns with your interest in conclusions on financing and the role of a multi-country gathering (relevant to "15 countries launched group" context)."}, {"url": "https://elpais.com/america-futura/2026-04-25/la-transicion-energetica-ya-tiene-su-panel-internacional-de-ciencia-para-guiar-el-abandono-de-los-combustibles-fosiles.html", "title": "La transici\u00f3n energ\u00e9tica ya tiene su panel internacional de ciencia para guiar el abandono de los combustibles f\u00f3siles | Am\u00e9rica Futura | EL PA\u00cdS Am\u00e9rica", "author": "Mar\u00eda M\u00f3nica Monsalve S.", "summary": "Summary:\n\n- A new international science panel has been launched to guide the global transition away from fossil fuels (gas, oil, coal) and to accelerate a rapid, Just Energy Transition.\n- The panel was announced at a gathering in Santa Marta, Colombia, where more than 60 countries met to discuss leaving fossil fuels behind. The initiative aims to compile and synthesize all available scientific evidence on energy transitions to inform cities and nations.\n- Leadership includes Vera Songwe (Cameroon, co-chair of the Climate Finance High-Level Panel), Ottmar Edenhofer (German economist, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research), and Gilberto M. Jannuzzi (Brazil, Universidade Estadual de Campinas). Johan Rockstr\u00f6m (Institute for Climate Impact Research, Potsdam) outlined how the panel will operate.\n- Four working groups will focus on: decarbonization pathways, mapping solutions, designing policies and evaluations, and studying financial mechanisms and governance tools. The panel may involve 50\u2013100 scientists plus an external advisory group.\n- The panel seeks to address gaps left by COP30 and aims to produce faster, better-informed decisions to support a global transition away from fossil fuels.\n- The initiative aligns with Brazil\u2019s Lula presidency push for a global fossil fuel exit roadmap, though consensus at the UN has been challenging."}, {"url": "https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2026-04-13/la-conferencia-para-abandonar-los-combustibles-fosiles-que-se-celebrara-en-colombia-puede-ser-una-victoria-climatica-inesperada.html", "title": "La conferencia para abandonar los combustibles f\u00f3siles que se celebrar\u00e1 en Colombia puede ser una victoria clim\u00e1tica inesperada | EL PA\u00cdS Am\u00e9rica Colombia", "author": "Mark Hertsgaard, Kyle Pope", "summary": "Summary:\nThe article reports on an upcoming International Conference on Just Transition to Abandon Fossil Fuels, to be held in Santa Marta, Colombia, on April 28\u201329, 2026. Organized by Colombia and the Netherlands, the gathering aims to chart a practical, market-driven path away from coal, oil, and gas while protecting workers and affected communities. Unlike UN processes like COP30, this conference will operate by majority vote rather than consensus, potentially enabling faster progress without a few countries blocking outcomes. The event brings together governments (a \u201ccoalition of the willing\u201d of about 15+ countries), climate activists, Indigenous leaders, and labor and civil society groups to share concrete plans for transitioning economies away from fossil fuels. The initiative occurs in a context where fossil-fuel-dependent states faced setbacks at COP30, but now seek to translate aspirational goals into actionable \u201cviable solutions\u201d through follow-up meetings. The venue\u2019s symbolism is heightened by Colombia\u2019s status as a top coal exporter and Royal Dutch Shell\u2019s prominence in the host country\u2019s ties."}]}

Originally published by AP News.

Sources (16)

La conferencia para abandonar los combustibles fósiles que se celebrará en Colombia puede ser una victoria climática inesperada | EL PAÍS América Colombia

elpais.com

La conferencia de Santa Marta pone en el punto de mira los beneficios de las petroleras: “Están ganando con nuestra dependencia” | Clima y Medio Ambiente | EL PAÍS

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La transición energética ya tiene su panel internacional de ciencia para guiar el abandono de los combustibles fósiles | América Futura | EL PAÍS América

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Medio centenar de países se unen para salir de los combustibles fósiles en pleno ‘shock’ petrolero: “Nos jugamos la soberanía” | Clima y Medio Ambiente | EL PAÍS

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Cambiar el rumbo de la historia: la oportunidad de Santa Marta para un mundo sin combustibles fósiles | Clima y Medio Ambiente | EL PAÍS

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What was agreed on climate change at COP30 in Brazil?

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U.N. summit ends without agreement on phasing out fossil fuels : NPR

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Limp COP30 deal matters little in renewables vs fossil battle | Reuters

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What to know about the deal struck at the UN climate conference | AP News

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COP30: UN climate talks fail to secure new fossil fuel promises

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El carbón colombiano prohibido por Petro se sigue exportando a Israel | EL PAÍS América Colombia

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Colombia propone reforma fiscal para conseguir US$6544 millones - LA NACION

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Colombia acumula descenso en producción promedio de petróleo y gas durante 2025 - LA NACION

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Luis Carlos Reyes: Mr. Taxes busca el camino del ‘pospetrismo’ en la izquierda | EL PAÍS América Colombia

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Colombia acumula descenso en producción promedio de petróleo y gas durante 2025 - LA NACION

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Santa Marta congrega a los países que quieren dejar atrás los combustibles fósiles: así llega América Latina a la conferencia | América Futura | EL PAÍS América

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