Colombian activists take the stage to demonstrate against fracking during an energy-transition conference event. (Photo by Colombian Environment Ministry)
Countries dissatisfied with the plodding pace of world climate deliberations are newly optimistic following the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, an April summit in Colombia that convened government representatives and green advocates from over 50 nations. Hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands in Santa Marta, a major Colombian coal port, the April 24-29 conference focused on the urgent phaseout of fossil fuels. Organizers say that goal has too often been sidelined amid stakeholder jousting during traditional UN-sponsored climate negotiations such as last year’s COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Organized in reaction to poor progress on energy-transition issues at COP30, April’s conference took on the air of an emergency meeting, coinciding as it did with war in the Middle East and oil-price spikes following closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Petro’s policies in spotlight In Colombia, meanwhile, the conference reflected President Gustavo Petro’s ambitious... [Log in to read more]
