Fossil Fuel Phase Out Takes Centre Stage in Santa Marta

From 24–29 April 2026, governments, scientists, Indigenous representatives, civil society organisations, and financial institutions gathered to advance a global fossil fuels phaseout agenda.  

A major outcome of the conference was the establishment of the Scientific Panel for the Global Energy Transition (SPGET), intended to guide future discussions and support implementation efforts over the coming years. Discussions throughout the conference repeatedly emphasised that climate action can no longer focus solely on emissions reductions, but must also address biodiversity loss, ocean degradation, environmental justice, and the social impacts of extraction economies.

Ocean Impacts and Offshore Expansion at the Center of Discussions

A recurring theme throughout the conference was the growing concern regarding offshore fossil fuel expansion and its consequences for marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

During the pre-conference workshop “Ocean Perspectives on the Fossil Fuel Phase-Out” organised by CIEL, GGON and the Ocean Conservancy, participants highlighted that offshore oil and gas activities are among the fastest-growing threats to ocean health. Presentations stressed that most new exploration activities in 2024 were concentrated offshore, despite increasing scientific evidence linking offshore extraction to biodiversity loss, marine pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and underwater noise impacts.

Carlos Polo, representing OceanCare, mentioned that the role of the ocean in the energy transition remains insufficiently integrated into climate and energy governance frameworks. Participants called for stronger integration of offshore oil and gas in international agreements, and for increased coordination between ocean governance processes, climate negotiations, and biodiversity agreements.

OceanCare and other participants raised particular concern regarding the cumulative impacts of offshore exploration and industrial maritime activity on marine species. Data presented by SkyTruth indicated that vessel activity associated with offshore oil and gas infrastructure contributes significantly to underwater noise pollution. Participants also highlighted the broader ecological impacts of seismic surveys, drilling operations, gas flaring, and floating production systems, many of which remain underreported.

The workshop reinforced the growing recognition that offshore fossil fuel expansion is not solely a climate issue, but also a major ocean conservation and environmental justice challenge.

Colombia and Panama Position on Oil and Gas Exploration

Colombia stood out as one of the most prominent political voices during the conference. Government representatives framed the country’s suspension of new oil and gas exploration contracts as a matter of political coherence with its climate commitments and broader ecological transition agenda.

Colombia also emphasised the country’s rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity, noting the increase from 1% to 16% renewable participation in the national energy mix in recent years. The position was presented not only as a climate strategy, but as evidence that alternative development pathways are possible for fossil fuel-producing countries.

The discussions surrounding Colombia’s approach became particularly relevant in the context of offshore exploration. Several delegations and civil society organisations highlighted the contradiction between global climate targets and the continued licensing and expansion of offshore extraction activities worldwide. There was broad recognition that new offshore exploration projects risk locking countries into long-term fossil fuel dependence while simultaneously intensifying impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal livelihoods.

Panama advocates for an immediate, pragmatic, fair, and effective transition toward clean energy and electric mobility as a cornerstone of its economic and national security strategy. The government argues that the country’s historic dependence on fossil fuel flows has created fiscal and macroeconomic instability tied to volatile global oil prices. To address this, Panama seeks to progressively replace imported fuels with domestic renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and hydropower, while accelerating electrification across productive sectors and transportation systems. The transition is framed not only as a climate imperative, but also as a pathway to lower living costs, strengthen national resilience and security, achieve strategic energy independence, modernise the state, and enhance the long-term competitiveness of Panama’s logistics platform and economy. 

Calls for Stronger International Governance

Across both the high-level sessions and civil society dialogues, participants repeatedly stressed that voluntary climate commitments are insufficient to address the scale of the crisis. Panama delivered one of the clearest interventions, calling for binding international legal frameworks capable of enforcing fossil fuel phaseout commitments and recognising the Rights of Nature within global governance systems. OceanCare supported the Panama intervention. For us, this conference represents a first but crucial step towards building the political and institutional foundations needed to end fossil fuel exploration for new reserves and extraction. 

Participants also discussed the need to strengthen implementation of existing international legal instruments, including advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), as well as advancing discussions around a Fossil Fuel Treaty.

Ocean governance featured prominently within these conversations. Delegates emphasised that a significant share of current and future oil and gas extraction is offshore, making it essential that oceans are explicitly incorporated into transition strategies and future climate frameworks.

Next steps

During the final plenary session on 29 April, the co-hosts of the conference, Colombia and the Netherlands, presented the key takeaways of the conference in a short report. The second conference for transition away from fossil fuels was already announced as the first outcome. It will take place in Tuvalu, co-hosted by Ireland, in 2027. Three workstreams were also established to bring forward to the second conference: the development of voluntary  national and regional roadmaps away from fossil fuels, addressing  macroeconomic dependencies and financial architecture, and trade and investment balance for decarbonisation.

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