56 Nations Launch Trade Strategy To Eliminate Fossil Fuels Outside UN System

Fifty-six nations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, last week to launch a major push toward ending the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. The First International Conference for the Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels ran from April 24 to April 29, 2026. Colombia and the Kingdom of the Netherlands co-hosted the event.

The conference brought together government officials, climate advocates, and financial experts. Together, the participating countries represent roughly one-fifth of global fossil-fuel production and nearly one-third of global consumption. More than 2,600 organizations also took part alongside the national governments.

The event took place outside the United Nations framework. That means none of the commitments made there are legally binding. Major UN veto-holding petrostates weren’t part of the coalition. Early reports reportedly counted 57 nations at the close of the conference.

Without UN backing, no commitments from the 57-nation conference carry legal weight.

Leaders focused on three main workstreams. These covered economic and financial barriers, green trade promotion, and fossil-fuel dependency. Financing was described as the biggest obstacle to change, especially for developing countries. Many of these nations face debt traps and rely heavily on fossil fuels to support their economies.

Delegates also discussed the petrochemical industry. Recommendations reportedly included freezing expansion of petrochemical facilities and setting declining production caps. Calls were made to eliminate fossil-fuel subsidies and improve supply chain transparency. Without intervention, petrochemicals are projected to account for roughly one third of oil demand growth by 2030.

Iran-Hormuz tensions reportedly added urgency to talks about energy security. Officials acknowledged that many fossil-dependent economies don’t yet have the resources to switch to cleaner alternatives. Experts at the conference noted that renewable electricity could provide an estimated 65% of the world’s power by 2030, underscoring the urgency of accelerating the transition.

An estimated 340 or more civil-society organizations issued a declaration during the conference. They reportedly called for eliminating Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanisms, known as ISDS. The organizations proposed canceling investment treaties that include arbitration provisions and building a new multilateral framework free of ISDS.

Nations agreed to keep working together through dedicated groups focused on financing and labor transitions. Former Irish President Mary Robinson described the tone of the conference as more human together than traditional formal climate negotiations. They also decided to hold a second conference in Tuvalu, co-hosted with Ireland. A final declaration was expected on April 29, 2026.

✅ Claims in this article were verified using AI-assisted fact-checking.