Could Santa Marta climate talks mark ground zero in push to ditch fossil fuels?
Colombia hosted nearly 60 countries in Santa Marta for the first global conference focused on transitioning away from fossil fuels, marking a pivotal moment in international climate efforts. The talks come amid soaring oil and gas prices linked to geopolitical conflicts, prompting renewed urgency to shift to renewable energy. Officials and experts, including the International Energy Agency's Fatih Birol, emphasized that the current energy crisis could drive lasting changes toward electrification and clean energy adoption worldwide.
- ▪Colombia hosted the first-ever international conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels, bringing together nearly 60 countries.
- ▪Oil and gas price surges following the US-Israel attacks on Iran have intensified global economic pressures and energy insecurity.
- ▪Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, stated the current energy crisis is larger than any previous one combined.
- ▪Renewable energy sources like wind and solar, along with battery storage and electric vehicles, are now viable alternatives to fossil fuels.
- ▪The Colombian environment minister, Irene Vélez Torres, described the talks as the beginning of a new global climate democracy.
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An oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea at sunset on Tuesday during the Santa Marta climate talks in Colombia this week. Photograph: Iván Valencia/APView image in fullscreenAn oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea at sunset on Tuesday during the Santa Marta climate talks in Colombia this week. Photograph: Iván Valencia/APClimate crisisCould key climate talks mark ground zero in global push to ditch fossil fuels?Colombia hosted nearly 60 countries at pivotal time on world stage for fight to transition to a clean energy futureFiona Harvey and Jonathan Watts in Santa MartaFri 1 May 2026 10.19 EDTLast modified on Fri 1 May 2026 10.21 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleLooking out to sea from the grey sandy beaches of Santa Marta, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, it is never hard to spot evidence of…
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