Could this conference be a 'turning point' for the world's use of fossil fuels?

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, Colombia's Environment Minister Irene Vélez Torres and Dutch Minister of Climate and Green Growth Stientje van Veldhoven attend the International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia, on April 28, 2026. Raul Arboleda/AFP via hide caption toggle caption Raul Arboleda/AFP via SANTA MARTA, Colombia — As the sun sets on the Caribbean coast, the lights turn on at the giant port that exports millions of tons of Colombia's coal to the rest of the world. Colombia is a major global coal producer, as well as an oil and gas producer. But in recent years, Colombia's government has been diversifying its economy and transitioning away from fossil fuels , the single biggest driver of human-caused climate change. The country isn't alone. This week, Colombia and the Netherlands — the birthplace of oil giant Shell — are co-hosting the "Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels conference" in Santa Marta, just north of the coal port. At a hotel by the sea, more than 50 countries are participating in a two-day high-level conference to discuss concrete ways to phase out oil, gas, and coal. "Let this conference be the moment when ambition becomes action," Colombia's environment minister Irene Vélez Torres told the countries gathered for the opening plenary. …