Ahead of the historic First Conference on Transitioning Away From Fossil Fuels, Asian civil society leaders and climate justice advocates convened today to demand an accelerated shift toward renewable energy. Their call comes as a deepening energy crisis, triggered by intensifying conflict in the Middle East, forces nations across Asia to grapple with record-breaking fuel prices and severe supply disruptions.

The press conference, "Asia’s Roadmap for a Fossil-Free Future," underscored a double-edged struggle: Asia is fighting for survival against both climate chaos and the economic fallout of the Strait of Hormuz blockade. The civil society leaders warned that the crisis has exposed the profound danger of fossil fuel dependence, yet has also tempted governments to revert to coal and roll back environmental protections to keep economies afloat.

They cautioned that prioritizing short-term energy security through carbon-intensive infrastructure risks entrenching the very systems that must be dismantled to mitigate the escalating climate crisis.

They argued that Asian countries’ energy security now depends on abandoning the fragile fossil fuel system in favor of decentralized, renewable domestic power. They positioned the transition to renewables not only as an environmental mandate but as a geopolitical necessity.

As participating nations prepare to convene in Santa Marta, Colombia on April 24-29, the civil society leaders outlined key expectations for the conference:

• Move away from Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and fossil-based technologies that lock developing nations into decades of debt and high emissions.

• Capitalize on the current crisis to shift directly to wind and solar power. These technologies are not only projected to reach nearly 20% of global electricity generation this year, but are now the most cost-competitive energy sources available, consistently undercutting the volatile and escalating costs of coal and gas.

• Demand that developed nations provide the climate finance necessary for a just and orderly decline of fossil fuel production in the Global South.

• Binding commitments to actions that eliminate fossil fuels while ensuring technological transfers so the Global South does not bear the costs of a crisis it did not create.

Quotes from Speakers

Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator for the Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD) and Asia Coordinator for Santa Marta Conference:

“We have high hopes that this conference will signal to governments and the rest of the world that there is a very strong push for the transition away from fossil fuels. This transition needs to be rapid, equitable and just. And part of this is recognizing the framework of Common But Differentiated Responsibility of countries, which should be at the heart of the transition. The Global North has an obligation to provide the Global South finance, including finance for an equitable and just transition.”

Bareesh Hasan Chowdhury, Campaigns and Policy Coordinator, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association:

“The Bangladesh Prime Minister said yesterday we are trying to stabilize prices. We need budgetary support from lenders to try and manage inflationary impacts, which could be quite catastrophic. We are talking about livelihoods and real lives impacted by the blockade. There is a real opportunity here to change. The addiction to fossil fuels must be thwarted moving forward. This type of geopolitical shock can happen anytime. We cannot continue relying on this sort of energy market. This will not lead to energy sovereignty.” 

“The structural barriers to renewables deployment and adoption is a key issue in Santa Marta that should be addressed to enable the just transition.” 

Nithi Nesadurai, Director & Regional Coordinator, Climate Action Network Southeast Asia (CANSEA): 

“There is an economic argument for transitioning away from fossil fuels. It shields us from shocks and creates energy sovereignty.”

“Before the crisis, the narrative was that transitioning away from fossil fuels will affect economic development. This is no longer the case. So is the argument for gas as transition fuel. It no longer holds water. Gas creates carbon lock-in. And with the cost of renewables coming down, it is time for a paradigm shift. Southeast Asian leaders going to Santa Marta must realize that the region can meet its needs through RE and seize the opportunity to transition away from fossil fuels.”

Dr. Abid Suleri, Executive Director of the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), Pakistan:

“Even if the war ends tomorrow, the time to repair the damaged infrastructure will take years – from 3 to 5 years — in order to go back to pre-war production of gas. Not just gas for electricity but also gas for fertilizers. It will take 2 months for the refineries to get back in operation.”

“Countries like Pakistan with high fossil fuel dependence and high debt are most vulnerable to the crisis. The countries are shifting their patterns in dependency, shifting to coal, but also having an excellent chance to shift to renewables. In Pakistan, solar capacity has increased and electric vehicles uptake is high. But the shift cannot be done overnight because of legacy payments. Dependency on fossil fuels have to be reconsidered and retired. Renewable energy has to be promoted.”

Mustafa Talpur, Regional Advocacy and Campaigns Lead, Oxfam International:

“What South Asian governments can take to Santa Marta is a strong push to make the rich pay for fossil fuel taxes. If we tax fossil fuel companies, we can generate billions of dollars more than enough for what we need for loss and damage. South Asian governments can also make a strong push for reparations for climate justice, outline a clear roadmap out of fossil fuel dependency, and demand cancellation of illegal debts. Many Asian nations don’t have the fiscal capacity to pay their illegal debts so a strong demand for debt cancellation is needed to be addressed in this transition.”

Mega Maskey, Asia Campaigner for the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative:

“Nepal is very dependent on imported petroleum products. Gas prices have doubled and cooking gas is being sold only half-filled. We need to move our narrative from victimhood. We are making strides in renewables adoption, with renewables powering the country, millions of households now have clean cooking , and high uptake of EVs. There is a local policy that new industries can only run on clean energy.”

“The Nepal government is taking ownership and addressing political and structural barriers to equitable energy access. Putting ‘just’ in the energy transition is an absolute must. “The crisis must not paralyze us but mobilize us.” 

“Santa Marta is a huge turning point in climate diplomacy. A Fossil Fuel treaty can be an essential tool to drive a global just transition by stopping the expansion of fossil fuels and managing a fossil fuel phaseout.”

Harjeet Singh, Strategic Advisor and Asia Lead of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative:

“Despite the success of renewables globally and regionally, Asia’s dependence on fossil fuels has not shifted. This is concerning and if not addressed we will not be able to tackle the climate crisis. Our dependence on fossil fuels is massive. The unprecedented price surges, output losses and currency devaluation have affected Asian economies and put millions of households into hardship. We are seeing a humanitarian crisis around us.”