Santa Marta Conference: A potential turning point for fossil fuels – and for the ocean?
- First implementation-focused conference: Representatives from around 80 countries will meet in Santa Marta, Colombia, to advance concrete steps towards transitioning away from fossil fuels
- From commitments to action: A “coalition of the willing” aims to move forward without waiting for global consensus as the climate crisis is imminent.
- 16 years after Deepwater Horizon: Offshore fossil fuel expansion continues – with growing risks for marine ecosystems such as the critically endangered Rice’s Whale in the Gulf of Mexico
- The climate hotspot “Mediterranean region” cannot wait: With its marine life under pressure while fossil fuel exploration persist
16 years after the Deepwater Horizon disaster on 20 April 2010, the United States is once again driving fossil fuel expansion in the Gulf of Mexico – putting already endangered species such as the Rice’s whale at extreme risk.
But at the same time, hope is emerging in Colombia. On 28 and 29 April, representatives from around 80 countries will gather in Santa Marta as part of a “coalition of the willing” to advance concrete steps towards transitioning away from fossil fuels.
While the conference could mark a turning point, the conditions in climate hot spots, such as the Mediterranean and its marine life, are deteriorating.
The Santa Marta conference demonstrates an ambitious approach in international climate policy, as it focuses on implementation: translating existing commitments into practical measures. This reflects a growing recognition that the main barrier is no longer a lack of political agreements, but a lack of concrete action.
From OceanCare’s perspective, this also underlines a central point: climate protection and ocean protection are inseparable – and both depend on the immediate implementation of measures to phase out fossil fuels.
Why the ocean is at risk
Offshore fossil fuel activities are a major driver of both climate change and direct harm to marine ecosystems. Industries driving fossil fuel expansion are a key contributor to underwater noise pollution.
Within seismic surveys locating new oil and gas deposits dozens of air-guns are employed simultaneously creating some of the loudest human-made noise activities in the ocean. They generate intense noise emissions of up to 260 decibels every ten to 15 seconds, often over weeks or months.
For whales and dolphins, which depend on sound for communication, orientation and feeding, this can have severe consequences – including disruption of essential behaviours, displacement from habitats and long-term stress.
The Mediterranean cannot wait
For OceanCare, the urgency is particularly evident in the Mediterranean, a recognized climate hotspot where ecosystems are already under significant pressure.
Despite this, offshore fossil fuel exploration and exploitation continue in parts of the region, in some cases even overlapping with marine protected areas. This adds further pressure on already vulnerable species, such as whale and dolphin populations. OceanCare, however, points out that especially impulsive noise causes severe impacts for almost all marine wildlife, including fish and invertebrates.
In the Mediterranean, Portugal, France and Spain have already adopted full or partial bans on new oil and gas exploration, not granting any new licenses in their national waters, demonstrating that regional action is both possible and effective.
OceanCare’s demands
OceanCare calls on governments to take immediate action:
- End the expansion of offshore fossil fuel activities by halting new exploration licenses and committing to a phase-out of existing extraction, to prevent further industrial pressure on marine ecosystems
- Address the direct impacts of offshore fossil fuel activities by banning seismic surveys for oil and gas exploration, as they are one of the most intense sources of underwater noise pollution
- Address plastic pollution at its source by adopting legally binding rules to freeze and phase down the production of virgin plastics to sustainable levels, both nationally and internationally
- Strengthen regional implementation of existing commitments, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Mediterranean
Nicolas Entrup, Director of International Relations at OceanCare, says:
“The ocean is paying the price for our continued dependence on fossil fuels – through climate disruption, underwater noise pollution and the risk of devastating oil spills. We already know what needs to be done. What is missing is not knowledge or scientific evidence, but the political will to act. The Santa Marta conference must generate momentum for governments to actively enhance exiting the fossil fuel era, boost the renewable energy transition and put all hands on deck to protect the ocean.
From fossil fuel extraction to plastic pollution: human activities are pushing marine ecosystems to their limits. If we are serious about protecting the ocean, we must finally address these threats at their source instead of only managing their consequences.”
Carlos Bravo Villa, Ocean Policy Specialist at OceanCare, adds:
“For decades, governments have agreed on the need to move away from fossil fuels – yet offshore exploration continues. Little has changed. This contradiction is no longer tenable. We cannot claim to protect the ocean while continuing to search for new oil and gas beneath it. Let’s be consistent.
What we need now are concrete steps: no new offshore exploration, a clear timeline to phase out existing extraction, and strong regional action plans and implementation of the same. The Mediterranean in particular cannot wait for global consensus. In one of the world’s fastest-warming marine regions, continued seismic exploration and fossil fuel activities are already putting whales and marine life under severe pressure – even in marine protected areas. While the Santa Marta Conference signals global momentum, action must start at regional level – now.”
Media contact
Anton Mattmüller, International Media Relations Officer, OceanCare, amattmueller@oceancare.org, +43 681 106 193 66
About OceanCare
OceanCare is an international marine conservation non-governmental organisation, founded in Switzerland in 1989. The organisation pursues the protection and restoration of the marine environment and marine wildlife with a strong policy focus, combining research, conservation projects and education. OceanCare’s remit includes marine pollution, climate change, marine mammal hunting and the environmental consequences of fisheries. Its work is supported by a team of scientific, legal and policy experts, and involves strategic collaboration with civil society organisations and coalitions around the world. OceanCare is an officially accredited partner and observer to several UN conventions and other international fora. www.oceancare.org