First Global Conference to Transition Away from Fossil Fuels

Between April 24 and 29, the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands convened 57 countries and hundreds of civil society organizations in Santa Marta for the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. Representing one-third of global GDP, this gathering emerged directly from the disappointing outcomes of COP 30, which failed to directly confront the primary culprit of climate change: fossil fuels. Frustrated by this inaction, this summit aimed to bypass diplomatic stalls and accelerate the Paris Agreement goals.

Lisa Sullivan and Olivia Engling from the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns organized side events at the conference, collaborating with faith partners such as CIDSE to ensure that social justice values are at the heart of the negotiations.

A distinctive feature was its inclusive nature, bringing together national leaders, academia, and social movements. Faith-based organizations played a significant role in the conference, and the Catholic Church was represented at the high-level meeting by a bishop from Latin America, two lay women, and a representative from the Holy See. Their presence highlighted the moral urgency of the transition.

The conference outcomes reflect a hopeful new kind of multilateralism. Rather than waiting for a universal consensus, this “coalition of the willing” focused on practical steps. Key results include:

• Sustained Commitment: Tuvalu and Ireland will co-host the 2027 conference to keep the momentum alive
• Coordination Group: A team will align these efforts with the UN’s goal for a “just and equitable” transition
• Multilateral Complementarity: Findings will be shared with the UN Secretary-General to influence the next Global Stocktake.
• Three Technical Workstreams: Focused on creating clear transition roadmaps, reforming global finance to help debt-heavy nations, and shifting trade away from fossil fuel reliance.
• Science Panel (SPGET): A new panel dedicated to breaking down the legal and political barriers to staying within the 1.5°C warming limit.

Discussions emphasized that a “just transition” must overcome the financial traps and subsidies that keep fossil fuels artificially cheap. By prioritizing social inclusion and worker rights, the Santa Marta summit offers a collaborative spirit that marks a significant shift in how the world tackles the climate crisis.

“I leave Santa Marta with a renewed optimism in multilateral possibilities and greater clarity on how to respond to the call to care for our Common Home,” says Lisa Sullivan, MOGC’s Integral Ecology senior program officer, “Representatives of 57 nations, alongside scientists, faith leaders, indigenous communities, and labor leaders wasted no energy in debating what is the key culprit of climate change – that massive stumbling block that diluted 30 years of global climate diplomacy. That energy was instead directed to the complex task of how the transition from fossil fuels- already massively globally underway – should advance to make it fair and fast enough. Faith groups rolled up their sleeves to prepare for and participate in the conference and are already hard at work to follow up in our communities, countries and global tables. As Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa, VP of CELAM, shared in his Sunday homily in the Santa Marta Cathedral: Working toward a transition beyond fossil fuels is not, therefore, an ideological choice, but a demand of our faith.”

Faith communities can be the positive tipping point for climate justice. Care for creation is a tenet that connects us all, giving us the reach to catalyze real transformation. While international policy can move slowly, local momentum is surging. We are eager to see how this conference will amplify these grassroots efforts and accelerate the shift to a clean energy future.

Take Action
PRAY: The Vincentian Family and the Sisters of Charity Federation offer a daily prayer guide to reflect individually or in community about the conference.
STUDY: Catholic leaders from the Global South recently released a manifesto calling for a just transition that defends both life and justice. Read the Manifesto here. For more context, explore this Sojourners article or watch the Fossil Fuel Treaty video.
ACT: Sign the Faiths for a Fossil Free Future Multi-Faith Letter as an individual or group.

Photo: Lisa Sullivan and other CIDSE members at the First Conference for Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.