Countries meet in first global effort to phase out fossil fuels

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🗞️ Driving the news: Around 60 countries have gathered in Santa Marta to advance plans for a global phase-out of fossil fuels, marking the first major effort outside UN climate talks to push a coordinated transition away from coal, oil, and gas

🔭 The context: Frustration with stalled progress at COP30 has driven this “coalition of the willing,” as consensus-based UN negotiations have struggled due to resistance from major fossil fuel producers
• While countries like Colombia, Australia, and Nigeria are participating, key emitters such as the United States, China, and India are absent
• The initiative aims to complement, not replace, the COP process by building momentum for faster climate action

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The talks signal a potential shift toward coalition-driven climate leadership, bypassing gridlock in global negotiations
• With scientists warning that the 1.5°C threshold may soon be breached, accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels is critical to avoid irreversible climate tipping points and escalating extreme weather risks

⏭️ What’s next: Outcomes from the meeting are expected to feed into preparations for COP31
• Participating countries aim to expand the coalition and demonstrate that a critical mass supports rapid decarbonisation

💬 One quote: “Breaking through 1.5°C means we enter a far more dangerous world.” — Johan Rockström

📈 One stat: Participating countries represent about 20% of global fossil fuel supply, indicating growing but still partial alignment

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