How Santa Marta Showed The World A New Way Forward

InnovationSustainabilityHow Santa Marta Showed The World A New Way ForwardByMaría Mendiluce,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Maria is an energy economist, focussing on the role of business.Follow AuthorMay 26, 2026, 05:33am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Colombia's Environment Minister Irene Velez and Netherlands' Climate Minister Stientje van Veldhoven on stage during the International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia.AFP via Getty ImagesUp to now, international climate diplomacy has been shaped by the need to secure consensus across nearly 200 countries, making it difficult to move beyond high-level commitments. The Santa Marta conference reflected a different approach. Co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the conference in April brought together over 50 countries representing a significant share of global energy demand and economic activity, alongside businesses, investors and civil society. The focus was not to negotiate new global commitments, but the financial, industrial and political conditions needed to deliver the transition away from fossil fuels. Coalition of the willingRecent geopolitical instability and renewed volatility in oil and gas markets have reinforced the risks of continued fossil fuel dependence. The coalition of willing nations at Santa Marta reflected a growing recognition that, for many governments, the question is increasingly how much economies want to remain exposed to political and security shocks originating far beyond their borders. Most of the countries present were energy-importing economies seeking greater action at global and national levels to protect themselves from fossil fuel volatility. The fact these nations are becoming more organised around the practicalities of transition should be a clear indicator of how the energy st...