News
31/03/26
Fossil fuel producers part of Colombia phase out talks
Edinburgh, 31 March (Argus) — Fossil fuel producers Canada, the UK, Norway,
Angola, Mexico, Brazil, Senegal and Australia are among 45 countries confirmed
to take part in a global meeting in Colombia to progress discussions on the
transition away from fossil fuels, according to Colombia's environment minister
Irene Torres. "These countries are strategically important because they reflect
the diversity of the fossil fuel supply chain, accounting for approximately
one-fifth of global production and nearly one-third of global consumption,"
Torres said. The conference was announced during the UN climate Cop 30
conference in Belem last year and will be held in Santa Marta on 24-29 April.
Torres said the countries taking part will launch a global coalition aimed at
accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels. Countries vulnerable to the
climate crisis, such as island nations of Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Palau and the
Marshall Islands, will be present. Countries reliant on fossil fuel imports,
such as Germany, France, Italy, Vietnam, Cameroon and Cambodia will be present,
as will the EU and the Cop 30 and 31 respective presidencies, Brazil and Turkey.
The Cop 30 presidency is drafting a roadmap to transition away from fossil
fuels, after calls to include it in the outcome of the Belem summit were
rejected . The document should be ready in time for Cop 31 in Antalya, Turkey,
although it is unclear what the next steps will be when is released. "Despite
our differences, all participants agree on the need to prioritise science and to
move forward, urgently and in a coordinated manner, toward phasing out the
production and consumption of natural gas, coal, and oil," Torres said. The
conference will serve as a forum to build consensus and demonstrate "the will to
act on this transition", she said. The conference comes as energy security
concerns are to fore again, because of oil and gas supply disruptions resulting
from the US-Israel war on Iran. "The meeting aims to create favourable
conditions for moving toward concrete agreements and strengthening co-operation
among countries with different economic and energy situations," Torres said. She
said the broad representation "underscores the diversity of perspectives". Among
fossil fuel producers present, only the UK and Denmark have committed to end
licensing, although the former will continue to allow tie-backs to existing
fields and the latter is considering extending one or more licences until 2050 .
Brazil, the largest oil producer in Latin America, is due to publish a fossil
fuel phase-out plan imminently after missing a self-imposed February deadline .
It has said developed countries should take the lead when it comes to "the
definition of schedules for transitioning away from fossil fuels". Mexico, the
second-largest oil producer in Latin America, joined Colombia in signing a
declaration pushing for a transition away from fossil fuels during Cop 30.
Canada, the world's fourth largest oil producer, has focused efforts on the
phase-out of fossil subsidies and reducing emissions in the sector but has no
plans to phase out production of fossil fuels. Canadian prime minister Mark
Carney has recently been pushing his country's large oil and gas resource base
abroad , pledging more infrastructure is forthcoming. Norway has repeatedly said
it is not planning to phase out oil and gas, but the Green party has pushed for
a commission looking at the oil transition to be set up in December, as part of
a deal to pass the country's budget. African producers such as Angola — the
continent's second largest producer — are likely to continue focusing on the
"just transition" aspect, including climate finance and technology transfer and
reducing its dependency on oil revenues. Angola said it is planning to keep
production steady until at least 2027, after years of battling declining output.
By Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at
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