Santa Marta sends a clear signal: the fossil fuel transition has begun

After years following global climate negotiations, Stand.earth concluded its participation in the first-ever Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels with hope, after witnessing progress toward a just and equitable energy transition.

Hosted by the governments of Colombia and Netherlands, the Santa Marta Conference brought together 57 countries — representing roughly one-third of the global economy — willing to move beyond debating whether the transition should happen and toward advancing concrete pathways away from oil, gas, and coal.

 

Coalition of the willing

Among the main commitments of the so-called “coalition of the willing” is the development of national roadmaps. These plans are expected to detail how each country intends to transition away from fossil fuels and be presented within the next year as a complement to countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which outline emissions reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. 

The conference received contributions from 14 stakeholder groups, including Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, non-governmental organizations, youth, academia, private sector, trade unions, and financial actors. Each group presented recommendations toward a shared political commitment among participating countries. Stand contributed to the collective position advanced by social movements and civil society organizations, particularly around the need to stop fossil fuel expansion.

Santa Marta was not intended to be a one-off meeting, but the beginning of an ongoing international process. The next edition of the conference will take place in Tuvalu in 2027, with co-presidency by Ireland. The choice of Tuvalu, one of the territories most threatened by sea level rise, underscores the urgency of accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. 

 

Stand at the Santa Marta Conference

During the conference, Stand’s delegation participated in discussions focused on advancing pathways to stop fossil fuel expansion, strengthen international cooperation, and accelerate a just transition. A central focus was the call for governments to establish Fossil-Free Zones – geographic areas defined by their ecological, biodiversity, or cultural significance and protected from fossil fuel exploration – which was included as a recommendation in the conference’s official takeaways document.

Stand also highlighted the role of the financial sector in enabling fossil fuel expansion. Stand research shows that private banks are among the key enablers of the expansion, having directed more than $15 billion to oil and gas activities in the Amazon since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2016. Since the beginning of Stand’s Banks vs. the Amazon campaign, eleven financial institutions – including BNP Paribas, HSBC, and Citibank – have adopted various forms of policies to restrict financing for fossil fuel projects in the region, contributing to a significant reduction in financial flows to the sector.

While much more progress is needed, these commitments provide important evidence that the fossil-free zones concept can help disrupt the financial flows driving fossil fuel expansion and the climate crisis, while strengthening protections for ecosystems that are vital to the planet.

As part of its participation, Stand co-organized the event Financial Roadmaps Towards a Just Phaseout and a Fossil-Free Amazon, alongside Parliamentarians for a Fossil-Free Future, Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Watch, BankTrack, Urgewald, ReCommon, and Friends of the Earth. The session explored the financial reforms needed to support a global fossil fuel phase-out at the necessary speed and scale, while centering human rights, forest protection, and Indigenous leadership.

Check out some highlights from the event.

 

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Take action and keep the momentum alive

While the Santa Marta Conference marked an important step forward, the transition away from fossil fuels is far from guaranteed – and that is why public pressure remains essential. 

Governments need to know that people around the world are paying attention and expecting them to stay the course. History has shown that people working together is what leads to large-scale transformative change. None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something – and that is exactly what it’s going to take.

Sign Stand’s petition calling on governments to stay committed, stand up to fossil fuel pressure, and take real action to phase out fossil fuels now.