Colombia plans to spearhead the creation of a global coalition of nations aiming to end the use of fossil fuels, the country’s Environment Minister Irene Velez said on Tuesday.
The announcement comes ahead of an international conference co-organized by Colombia and the Netherlands, scheduled for April 28–29 in the city of Santa Marta.
Speaking during an online briefing with journalists hosted by the Climate Observatory, a Brazilian NGO network, Velez described the world as facing an “extreme energy crisis” driven by the ongoing war in the Middle East, which has caused oil prices to spike and stoked fears of a global economic slowdown.
Colombia’s goal, she said, is to establish a “coalition of those of us who possess the will to eliminate fossil fuels” and are “ready for action.” She added that 45 countries had confirmed attendance, including major hydrocarbon producers from Europe and North America, though she did not provide further details.
The initiative was first discussed during last year’s COP30 meeting in Belem, Brazil, where a lack of consensus among around 200 nations over the pace of transition away from fossil fuels prompted interested countries to explore alternative paths to climate action.
Velez expressed hope that California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prominent advocate for strong climate policies, would attend the conference.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian presidency of COP30 has been preparing an international roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels since late 2025. This roadmap is expected to be presented at the next climate conference, scheduled to be hosted by Turkey in November.
The Colombian-led initiative reflects growing international urgency to accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels amid economic and environmental pressures.
