How frustration at Cop stalemates inspires first global talks on phasing out fossil fuels
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- Coalition of the willing – 54 governments, representing ~20% of global fossil‑fuel production and ~33% of demand, gathered in Santa Marta from 24‑29 April.
- Colombia and the Netherlands – co‑hosted the summit, positioning the event as a non‑UN alternative to stalled COP talks.
- Major fossil‑fuel producers attending – Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Angola and Canada sent ministers, signaling willingness to discuss phase‑out pathways.
- Absent top emitters – China, India, the United States and Russia did not join, underscoring the split between the coalition and the world’s biggest polluters.
- COP28 outcome – only pledged a transition away from fossil fuels without a timetable; the new summit aims to fill that gap with concrete plans.
Why it matters: Fifty‑four governments, covering ~20% of fossil‑fuel output and ~33% of demand, gain a platform to shape a phase‑out roadmap, while oil‑dependent powers like China and the US lose leverage, accelerating investment shifts toward renewables.
