WELCOME TO THE FOSSIL FREE RISING BULLETIN

25 April 2026


Greetings from Santa Marta, Colombia!

 

This is your essential dose of information and analysis from the groundbreaking First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, brought to you every two days from Colombia’s Caribbean coast from April 24-29. Like a perfectly brewed Colombian coffee, we offer short, impactful updates on the key proposals and strategies shaping the global debate on transitioning away from fossil fuels

 

Organized by a diverse coalition of civil society organizations behind the People’s Summit, the Fossil Free Rising Bulletin gets straight to the point - whether you’re following remotely or need to stay connected between sessions, consider this your energizing companion to one of the most important climate gatherings of 2026.

 

¡Buen provecho!

WHAT JUST HAPPENED


Key highlights from events & dialogues:

  • Opening press conference with Colombian Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Irene Vélez-Torres
    • Santa Marta Conference in numbers:
      • Governments confirmed for the High Level Segment: a total of 56 countries, 30% from Europe, 20% from Americas, 16% from Africa, 12% from Asia, and strong representation from Oceania and the Pacific.
      • Other sectors: representatives from the United Nations, Presidencies of COP30 and COP31; over 1000 civil society organisations; around 500 representatives from social movements and Indigenous peoples around the world; 30 parliamentarians; 10 subnational governments, including the State of California, Rio, Quebec and Kingston; around 500 academics and scientists.
    • Three main expected conference outcomes: 
      • 1) Declaration from the scientific panel;
      • 2) Final report that draws on all the contributions from countries, social movements and civil society, to be made public and officially delivered to COP30 and COP31 presidencies, to serve as input for the Roadmap and COP31 agendas;
      • 3) The start of an ongoing diplomatic process parallel and complementary to the UNFCCC, with a coalition of countries ready to move forward - “We are opening a new frontier, and we cannot solve all the problems in one conference, so we will have a second conference to keep that fire alive.”
    • Photos can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/minambientecolombia/albums/ (Credit: Ministry of Environment of Colombia)
    • Full recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoDUzHui5u0 


  • Launch of the Scientific Panel on Global Energy Transition
    • Roughly 500 scientists are participating in the academic segment, which aims to act as a science advisory body to inform the Conference's final report, identifying implementable pathways at the global, regional, national and sectoral levels consistent with keeping 1.5°C within reach.
    • Scientists aim to synthesise existing knowledge and generate new insights on annual benchmarks for high ambition energy transition pathways to minimise overshoot and return to 1.5°C within this century.
    • The goal is to map and develop the most promising policy mixes, financial arrangements, sustainable technology solutions and governance dimensions that can support an accelerated transition to a decarbonised energy system.
    • The panel provided 12 action insights within the 3 thematic pillars of the conference, including “strengthen international cooperation on transition away from fossil fuels within and outside the UNFCCC.”
    • Full recording of press conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9UoXCDYzRU 


  • Oceans Perspectives Workshop
    • About 50 representatives from civil society and coastal communities across several countries gathered in Santa Marta for a workshop aimed at identifying challenges and pathways toward phasing out offshore oil and gas extraction
    • Offshore oil and gas, which represent a growing proportion of new fossil fuel supply and investment, remain insufficiently addressed in global phase-out discussions. Santa Marta presents a perfect opportunity to close the gap. 

WHO TO QUOTE


Top lines from experts and frontline voices on the ground:

  • Colombian Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Irene Vélez-Torres, at the Opening Press Conference: “People all over the globe today are demanding to stop fossil fuels. We have seen the damages and destruction. This is the right time. The more we wait, the more difficult it would be to make the right decision for our children. We have to do it soon, we have to do it orderly. I am very committed to doing my best in my country and hopefully also inspiring other parts of the world in making history and change. What we want here is for this coalition of willing countries to think collectively. We see ourselves as a complement to the UN process, free from the lobby of the oil industry, so that it has no influence on these agendas. This is the moment to put all our cards on the table.” 


  • Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, at the Launch of the Scientific Panel: “With emissions yet to peak, another El Niño on the horizon, and the prospect of overshooting the 1.5°C limit coming closer and closer, it has never been more important that leaders demonstrate that sensible, sustained and informed decisions on climate action can make a difference in people’s lives for the better. The evidence base for those decisions needs to be accessible, and that’s exactly what this panel could deliver.” More quotes on this press release.


  • Belyndar Rikimani, Campaign and Research Lead at Pacific Islands Students Fighting Climate Change (PISFCC), at the Oceans Perspectives Workshop: “A comprehensive debate about fossil fuel phase-out and just transition must include an ocean and coastal justice lens. Coastal communities’ perspectives are very essential to shaping just and equitable futures and must be part of the transition planning. For our coastal communities, the ICJ Advisory Opinion affirms what we have always known; the destruction of our oceans is a violation of our rights. A just transition means phasing out fossil fuels at the pace justice demands - while resourcing our people to lead, ocean- centered futures.” 


  • Ariana Escalante (Fundar, Centro de Análisis e Investigación):
    “There is no such thing as sustainable fracking, nor is gas a transitional fuel. Mexico has two options: to insist on this costly, dangerous and highly polluting technique, or to build a binding roadmap for the defossilization of its energy mix and its economy. We hope that, by the end of this Conference, the path chosen will be the latter — that of energy sovereignty.”


  • Rosa María Mateus (Colectivo de Abogados y Abogadas José Alvear Restrepo - CAJAR):
    “States must also address the core issues to make the phase-out of fossil fuels a reality. This includes withdrawing from the Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system and investment protection treaties. Furthermore, we must not promote or permit “false solutions”. We cannot simply move from one form of extractive industry to another.”

COMING UP


Upcoming relevant events to follow: 


  • Climate Justice Flotilla Press Conference
    • When: Saturday 25 at 10:00 (media is encouraged to arrive at 9:30)
    • Where: Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia
    • About the event: After a landmark civilian journey across the Caribbean Sea, the Climate Justice Flotilla arrives in Santa Marta, marking the completion of an unprecedented grassroots mission to connect Caribbean frontline realities with global decision-making spaces. Delegates aboard will present the visions, concerns, and demands gathered from communities across the Dutch Caribbean. 
    • Speakers:
      • Mar Faciolince Martina, Colombian-Curaçaoan activist and anthropologist
      • Nigel Maduro, Aruban Indigenous Caquetío, activist and sustainability scientist
      • Paolo Destilo, Dutch-Italian activist with United for Climate Justice
      • Patrick Scannel, Curaçaoan activist and environmental health scientist
      • Elisa Charpentier Torres, Colombian activist with Global Sumud Flotilla
    • Contacts: media@climatejusticeflotilla.org / +34 643 88 54 59 (in Santa Marta)


  • Women's Fossil Fuel Phaseout Forum: Halting Extraction and Advancing a Just Transition
    • When: Saturday 25, 18:00 - 21:00
    • Where: Best Western Plus Santa Marta Hotel
    • About the event: Global women leaders will highlight ongoing efforts to end fossil fuel extraction in the Amazon rainforest, advance a fossil fuel phaseout, and build a Just Transition. Critical topics include: policies to address phaseout, forest protection, climate justice frameworks, care economies, women’s leadership, Indigenous Just Transition projects, food sovereignty, fossil fuel resistance, Rights of Nature, and more.
    • Speakers include:
      • Olivia Bisa Tirko (Chapra), President of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Chapra Nation (GTANCH), Peru
      • Aura Tegria (Uwa), Uwa Indigenous Leader, Lawyer and Vice Minister of Ethnic Peoples and Campesinos of Colombia, Colombia
      • Abigail Gualinga (Kichwa), Vice President Elect of the Kichwa Community of Sarayaku, Ecuadorian Amazon, Ecuador
      • Luene Karipuna (Karipuna), Executive Coordinator of the Association of Indigenous Organizations of Amapa & Northern Para (APOIAP) in the Brazilian Amazon, Brazil
      • Jani Silva, Campesina Leader from Perla Amazonica in Putumayo, Colombia
      • Co-moderated by Leila Salazar-Lopez, Executive Director of Amazon Watch, Turtle Island/USA and Osprey Orielle Lake, Executive Director of WECAN, Turtle Island/USA
      • KEYNOTE: Susana Muhamad, Special Envoy to the Fossil Fuel Treaty, and Former Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Colombia
      • Yuvelis Natalia Morales Blanco, Member of the Alianza Colombia Libre de Fracking, and 2026 Goldman Prize Winner, Colombia
      • Seble Samuel, Head of Africa Campaigns & Advocacy with the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, Ethiopia
      • Xiye Bastida (Otomi-Toltec), Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Re-Earth Initiative, Mexico
      • Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member and Project Coordinator, Turtle Island/United States
    • Organisers: Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International


  • Open press conference to discuss the creation of oil and gas-free zones
    • When: Saturday 25, 11:00
    • Where: Auditório Hotel Best Western; Online broadcast (registration required):
    • https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/luK5ledaQ8q9VejXS4GzgQ  
    • About the event: Ecuador will be absent from the Santa Marta Conference. Indigenous leaders from three Amazonian countries are warning about the millions of hectares of ancestral lands and rainforest that the Ecuadorian government is putting at risk. 
    • Speakers:
      • Juan Carlos Ruiz, Sápara Nation
      • Marcelo Mayancha, Shiwiar Nation
      • Ana Nango, Andwa Nation of Pastaza
      • Patricia Suárez, OPIAC
      • Sergio Santos Silva, COIAB
      • Gregorio Mirabal, COICA
    • Contacts: Dayán Garzón: +593 987 395338 • dayan.g@tuamazonia.org; Tatiana Pardo: +57 310 5011787 • tpardo@amazonwatch.org; Ricardo Pérez: +51 943992012 • rperez@amazonwatch.org 



  • Diálogo Sindical en Santa Marta
    • When: Saturday 25, from 9:00 to 18:00
    • Where: Hotel Arhuaco Rodadero

MEDIA CONTACTS


Focal points for media requests


Nathalia Clark - nathalia@fossilfueltreaty.org / +55 61 991371229 (in Santa Marta)

Peri Dias - peri@ggon.org / +351 913 201 040 (in Santa Marta)

Valentina Stackl - valentina@priceofoil.org / ‪+1 (734) 276‑6260‬ (in Santa Marta)
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