Some countries participating in a conference in Colombia to discuss a transition away from fossil fuels called for stronger international cooperation and legal frameworks to help manage the shift.
Around 60 countries are participating in the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa, Marta, Colombia, and co-hosted by the Netherlands from 24-29 April. The two-day conference, which gathers ministers and other high-level officials from the participating countries, began on Tuesday.
The participating countries — which together account for around one-fifth of global oil production, one-third of consumption and one-third of the world's GDP, Colombia has said — mentioned frustrations over existing multilateral frameworks based on consensus and "influenced by interests of the fossil fuel industry".
Colombia's environment minister Irene Velez-Torres called for "multilateralism without de facto vetoes" that is "capable of translating agreements into implementation".
"We must pave the way for a legal instrument that names what it phases out and how we finance it," Panama's special representative for climate change Juan Monterrey said, also calling on participating countries to commit to banning drilling for hydrocarbons in specific zones.
Monterrey also told Argus that he expects the event to set up a few permanent working groups or streams that can carry the work in the future.
Other speakers at the plenary, such as Slovenia's state secretary Uros Vajgl, Germany's environment and climate action secretary Jochen Flasbarth and Spain's ecological transition minister Sara Aagesen also urged for "practical cooperation".
Others, such as Nigeria's regional development minister, said that the countries must discuss the phase down, not out, of fossil fuels. Nigeria is a crude producer and its national energy mix is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Brazil's secretary for climate change Aloisio de Melo said on the sidelines that a fossil fuel phase out would not be one-size-fits-all. "There is no ambition for a standard roadmap," he said, adding that it is important that each country takes ownership of its own process.
Many countries also mentioned a recent International Court of Justice advisory opinion that said that countries have obligations to contribute to cutting emissions, and breaching those commitments could constitute a "wrongful act".
Reality check
Many participating countries also emphasized how the effects of the war in Iran on fuel prices have underscored the need to transition away from fossil fuels.
EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra called the energy crisis brought on by the war in Iran "a reality check".
"We in Europe are losing half a billion euros each day this war continues," he said.
It would be "irresponsible to ignore the second energy crisis in five years", the UK's special climate representative Rachel Kyte said.
The war in Iran has shown that "a fast implementation of the agreed transition from fossil fuels is not just vital to combat climate change, but is also vital for energy security and energy," Cop 30 chief executive Ana Toni told conference attendees in Santa Marta.
