Official report released for the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels

Colombia and the Netherlands have released the official report of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 24 to 29 April 2026. The conference brought together representatives from 57 countries and more than 1,000 stakeholders to advance global commitments under the Paris Agreement. The full report is available below in both English and Spanish.

The AIR Centre took part in the Santa Marta conference across multiple segments of the programme, including the academic discussions, the People’s Pre‑Assembly, and the main conference sessions. The AIR Centre delegation included Prof. António Vallêra (University of Lisbon) and Natalia Ospina‑Alvarez, Head of the AIR Centre’s Biodiversity and Blue Economy Programme. Their participation followed a preparatory meeting held on 27 March at the AIR Centre’s office in Lisbon, organised with the Colombian Embassy in Portugal.

Over five days, delegates and representatives from 14 stakeholder groups examined how to ensure a just, orderly and equitable transition away from fossil fuels. Discussions focused on scientific evidence, social justice, financing mechanisms, and the governance structures needed to accelerate the global shift beyond fossil fuels.

The conference concluded with several forward‑looking decisions. The next Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels will take place in 2027, co‑hosted by Tuvalu and Ireland. A coordination group formed by the four co‑hosts will work with countries leading related initiatives and with the COP30 Activation Group. Three new work streams announced in Santa Marta are scheduled to launch at the end of July 2026.

The newly published report documents the commitments made in Santa Marta and sets the direction for the next phase of international cooperation on transitioning away from fossil fuels, ahead of the 2027 conference in Tuvalu.

(NOA, 24 July 2026]