London, June 23 – The final outcome report from the historic First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands in Santa Marta in April, was launched today at London Climate Action Week. The report demonstrates the strongest support to date for a Fossil Fuel Treaty as it recognises the need for an international mechanism to manage an equitable and just global phase-out. A powerful majority of 80% of sectors engaged in the process called for such a mechanism in their formal contributions, and many governments explicitly mentioned it in their interventions at the High-Level Segment.

The historic report was delivered by Colombia's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Irene Vélez Torres, and The Netherlands' Minister for Climate Policy and Green Growth, Stientje van Veldhoven to the COP30 Presidency at a panel during London Climate Action Week. The release of the report during climate week demonstrates the continued momentum of the Santa Marta Process on the global stage and represents the most significant compilation of policy proposals for the fossil fuel phase out at the international level. 

Based on contributions from all participants before and during the conference, the report presents a "Santa Marta Vision" for the transition away from fossil fuels. It contains ten key points, five of which advance the argument for a Fossil Fuel Treaty. The report states that: “Success in the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels requires action both within and beyond the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)”, and that “It will be equally important to address existing governance and implementation gaps through additional mechanisms, initiatives and agreements.” 

In the Reports’ summary of discussions of Santa Marta, it shows broad consensus that: “Existing multilateral forums remain indispensable, but they have not yet generated sufficiently operational instruments to transition away from fossil fuels.” The report also recognises “interest in exploring a dedicated international instrument, framework or transparency mechanism focused on the transition away from fossil fuels”, reinforcing the synthesis of government positions, which explicitly identifies "a binding fossil fuel treaty that could establish commitments to phase out fossil fuels and end new licensing" as a critical transition enabler. 

Kumi Naidoo, President of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said: "Santa Marta opened a door that has been closed for decades. The question is no longer whether we manage the decline of fossil fuels - it's how. We cannot discuss fossil fuels in a new process while keeping decision-making constrained to the consensus-based deadlocks that have paralysed action for years. The world is calling for negotiation of a Fossil Fuel Treaty, and in Tuvalu 2027, we must answer that call with concrete frameworks, not just more dialogue."

Sebastián Ordoñez Muñoz, Senior Programmes Officer for Climate Justice at War on Want, who took part in the panel with the ministers and Ana Toni, where the report was delivered to the COP30 Presidency, said: "Countries have spent decades building international rules to govern the expansion of fossil fuels, yet we still lack a framework to manage their decline. The Santa Marta report makes clear that this gap can no longer be ignored. A Fossil Fuel Treaty would provide the coordination, accountability and fairness needed to ensure that the transition away from coal, oil and gas happens at the speed and scale required by the climate crisis."

The Santa Marta Process marks the first dedicated multilateral forum specifically designed to address the transition away from fossil fuels and to complement the UNFCCC framework, breaking with decades of diplomatic deadlock within the consensus-based system, which allows only one country, usually wealthy petrostates, to have veto power, while industry lobbyists to flood the conference rooms and take part in negotiations. The report states that: “Santa Marta was born as a plurilateralism of the willing that can provide renewed dynamism to international cooperation. It complements existing frameworks while opening space for innovative forms of international coordinated actionbetter suited to the scale and urgency of today’s challenges.”

The historic conference brought together 57 nations representing 48% of global GDP, 30% of the world’s population, and 20% of global fossil fuel production. Indigenous Peoples, civil society, youth, workers, scientists and stakeholders from all sectors of society also participated in the process. The Santa Marta Conference represented a unique convergence of diverse sectors, with thousands of written submissions, virtual dialogues, autonomously organised assemblies, and a High-Level Segment focused on advancing international cooperation for a just and equitable fossil fuel phase-out.

At his closing speech in Santa Marta, Dr. Maina Vakafua Talia, Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment of Tuvalu, co-host along with Ireland of the upcoming second conference to be held in the Pacific in 2027, emphasized the Pacific island nation's commitment to continuing the work: “Together, we will be carrying this process forward to the Pacific. We are two island peoples, separated by the width of the world, yet bound together by something deeper. We are both nations shaped by history, by the ocean and by this common cause: to unite the world to transition away from fossil fuels. As the next co-hosts, our task is to take forward all the elements of the work begun here. Deepening solutions and confronting the barriers we have named together, including strengthening international cooperation and confronting the narrative that forces false choices: multilateralism and international cooperation are not defined by a single process, but rather by recognising the governance gaps.”

The report documents that participants identified "addressing governance gaps on fossil fuel production and use as a key area," with recognition that international cooperation limits the political and economic risk countries face when acting alone. It includes a clear recognition that the transition from fossil fuels needs to be aligned with the 1.5ºC climate limit – a legally binding threshold established by the Paris Agreement and further reinforced by the International Court of Justice. 

The report recognises that a transition away from fossil fuels is not just a climate issue, and requires a whole-of-economy transition, including addressing structural challenges like economic dependence and indebtedness. Notably, the outcome report will not only feed into UNFCCC processes, but also be delivered to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres. This is particularly relevant as the UN General Assembly recently approved a resolution endorsing the ICJ's Advisory Opinion on countries’ obligations to protect the climate system as a matter of international law, and tasked the UNSG with producing a report on “possible gaps in multilateral efforts to address the adverse effects of climate change in accordance with international law”.

UN Secretary-General,AntónioGuterres delivered a special statement today at London Climate Action Week, reinforcing the urgency of the transition away from fossil fuels: "We cannot double down on a system based on fossil fuels that is driving both the climate crisis and the energy crisis. These twin crises have once again exposed the limits of an outdated model of development. A model powered on fossil fuels – where a single conflict can upend global energy supply, and a single chokepoint can send prices soaring. This is our moment of choice. Our moment of truth. Our moment of opportunity. Let's seize it."

The Santa Marta report also highlighted other critical initiatives, including the COP30 Presidency's roadmaps, as well as financial mechanisms to support the transition. 

Tzeporah Berman, Chair and Founder of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said: “As the report shows, while developing national roadmaps is critical, it cannot happen in a vacuum. Many Global South states are unable to plan and implement domestic transitions without new forms of international cooperation, financial support, debt cancellation, and pathways to exit the International Investment Arbitration System. Roadmaps must also address fossil fuel production, including for export, rather than being limited solely to domestic use. This powerful report outlines that, without international cooperation, support, and finance, roadmaps risk falling far short - by delivering insufficient and unfair action from wealthy states while expecting the impossible from those who have done the least to cause the crisis.”

Looking ahead to Tuvalu and the second conference in 2027, the Santa Marta Process must aim to strengthen international cooperation and foster action by turning dialogues into concrete actions, cooperation mechanisms and frameworks. The ongoing process and subsequent conferences must focus on implementation: tangible, actionable outcomes for governments, and a forum for international cooperation that can serve as a platform for announcements, enabling the initiation of new and complementary multilateral instruments.

At hisclosing statement in Santa Marta, Minister Maina Talia announced that “we will ensure inclusivity in every facet of our preparations and in the second conference itself. Indigenous peoples are rights holders, and we will ensure their full, effective, and self-determined participation. We will also guarantee the full and meaningful participation from civil society, youth, workers, scientists, subnational governments, the private sector and social movements.”

The report was released two days after preliminary election results in Colombia indicated a narrow victory for Abelardo de la Espriella, the right-wing candidate supported by Donald Trump.

Yuvelis Natalia Morales, Member of the Alianza Libre de Fracking Colombia and winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize: “The Santa Marta report is not just a document; it reflects the voices of thousands who have been demanding climate justice for decades. For the first time, the world has a multilateral process specifically designed to manage the phase-out of fossil fuels, and 80% of the participating sectors stated unequivocally: we need a Fossil Fuel Treaty. We made history in Santa Marta, a courageous commitment from Colombia to the world that we must support in Tuvalu in 2027. The planned phase-out of fossil fuels is a process that is moving forward, and Colombia cannot face it alone.”