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Santa Marta Talks Gather 60 Nations to Map a Fossil-Fuel Exit

Organizers pitch a nimble forum to shape roadmaps outside stalled UN climate talks.

Overview

  • The Santa Marta conference, which moves into minister-level talks Tuesday and Wednesday, has drawn about 60 countries to plan an exit from coal, oil and gas.
  • Hosts say the meeting will issue a synthesis report rather than a binding pact, and they plan to launch a scientific panel to advise governments on energy transition roadmaps.
  • Delegates are weighing a treaty-style approach to phasing out fossil fuels, reforms to subsidies, and transition finance for developing countries through a participatory process that includes civil society.
  • The effort presents itself as a coalition of willing nations, yet the United States, China, India, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela are not attending.
  • An oil shock linked to the Iran war has added urgency by pushing up household energy costs, even as some governments respond with short-term drilling and fuel aid.