During the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City, Colombia has announced its plan to host the First International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels in April 2026. The landmark conference will provide a global platform for countries to cooperate on strategies to phase out oil, gas and coal extraction, complementing and reinforcing the Paris Agreement.
It also aligns with the historic International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion (ICJAO), which recognises States’ legal obligation to protect the climate, including by addressing fossil fuel production.
The decision to convene the conference was reached by the 17 countries participating in discussions to develop a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Participating nations agreed to advance a series of diplomatic conferences starting in 2026, with the goal of fostering international cooperation for a just transition away from fossil fuels.
Irene Vélez Torres, Minister in Charge of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, said: “Colombia is proud to host the First International Conference for the Phase-out of Fossil Fuels in 2026. This historic gathering will be a pivotal moment for the Global South to lead the charge in transforming our energy systems and addressing the intertwined crises of climate and justice. Together, we will chart a path that prioritises life, equity, and sustainability over destruction and inequality. This is our moment, our mandate – to build a future beyond fossil fuels and ensure reparative justice for everyone.”
Ralph Regenvanu, Minister for Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Disaster Management of Vanuatu, said: “For vulnerable nations like Vanuatu and our other Small Island States, the phase-out of fossil fuels is not merely an environmental imperative, it is an existential one. This conference represents a pivotal step towards forging a common roadmap, ensuring that no community or nation is left behind as we build a resilient, sustainable future that protects our people, our economies, and our planet.”
Tzeporah Berman, Founder and Co-Chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “This announcement from Colombia signals a bold and necessary step towards climate leadership. The proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty is gaining momentum, and this conference offers a vital opportunity to translate growing support into concrete action, accelerating our shift towards a more sustainable and just energy future for all.”
The conference will serve as a strategic space for dialogue among diverse stakeholders across all sectors – including government representatives, experts, rural and Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant communities, civil society, climate advocates, industry leaders, and academia – to explore viable, fair, and equitable pathways for transitioning to sustainable, diversified and accessible energy. Focused on fostering robust and structural transformations, the summit aims to facilitate a planned, just, and sustainable phase-out of fossil fuels.
This announcement marks the first political step towards the formal launch of the conference, with further details to be unveiled at COP30 in Belém. During a High-Level Ministerial Meeting, participating nations will outline the contours of the 2026 conference, and issue a joint political declaration, solidifying their commitment to decisive action in confronting the climate crisis: through a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels, one that recognises the need for a structural shift in our socioeconomic model.
The idea of a global conference builds upon successful examples of previous diplomatic summits that have led to increased international cooperation and treaty negotiations to address major global threats including the Mine Ban Treaty (Ottawa Process); the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Oslo Process); and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, for which a series of three conferences, known as the Humanitarian Initiative, shifted the framing of nuclear weapons from one of security to a humanitarian discourse, leading to successful treaty negotiations within the UN General Assembly.
This announcement comes at a critical moment, amplified by the release of the 2025 Production Gap Report today. The findings reveal a stark misalignment between global fossil fuel production plans and the levels essential to limiting global warming to 1.5°C. According to the report, government projections for 2030 indicate fossil fuel production will surpass Paris Agreement-compliant levels by more than 120%, and by 2050, production is expected to exceed necessary levels by 4.5 times for a 1.5°C pathway.
This systemic failure to reduce fossil fuel production demands even more drastic future cuts to meet Paris targets, underscoring the urgent need for a swift and decisive global transition away from fossil fuels.
By Adaobi Ogbuani