Following the conclusion of the Santa Marta Conference on a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Edder Díaz Martínez, Communications Director, 602-832-6039, [email protected]
SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA —GreenLatinos joins global partners in marking the conclusion of the Santa Marta Conference on a just transition away from fossil fuels, recognizing it as a significant milestone in advancing international dialogue and coordination. The Conference saw participation from more than 50 countries.
While the Conference created a critical global space to center frontline communities, civil society, and Global South leadership in shaping a future beyond fossil fuels, it fell short of delivering a binding Fossil Fuel Treaty among countries that will finally take steps to tackle the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions that are perpetuating our global climate and social crisis.
“The Santa Marta conference marks an important step in creating a global space to advance a fossil fuel phaseout beyond the UNFCCC, where progress has been too slow. At the same time, the absence of the U.S. government is telling and quite frankly, unacceptable. said Irene Burga, Climate Justice and Clean Air Director at GreenLatinos.
As the Conference concludes, outcomes are expected to include a synthesis report or “roadmap” that includes the major themes from the conference and concrete policy direction around how to achieve a fossil fuel phaseout, anticipated in June in time for the Bonn Climate Change Conference. GreenLatinos emphasizes that this report must reflect the priorities advanced by civil society and global climate justice movements including a call for a legally binding, rights-based and fully funded transition away from fossil fuels, including an end to new oil, gas, and coal expansion; rejection of false solutions; elimination of fossil fuel subsidies and industry influence; provision of public, grant-based, non-debt climate finance and Global South debt cancellation; protection of multilateral processes from industry capture; and an end to militarism, imperialism, and resource-driven wars.
“At a time when the climate crisis is undeniably ravaging communities across the globe, our current Administration is turning a blind eye and denying the clear science. Instead of leading, it continues to expand fossil fuels and uphold systems that fuel conflict, militarization, and harm. Frontline and Global South communities have been clear: we need a just transition rooted in rights, reparations, and real accountability. That means moving beyond voluntary commitments toward a legally binding, fully funded pathway to phase out fossil fuels. GreenLatinos stands in solidarity with that call,” said Irene Burga, Climate Justice and Clean Air Director at GreenLatinos.”
GreenLatinos also recognizes the significant effort made by Conference organizers to coordinate civil society participation and create space for engagement across regions and sectors. At the same time, there are important lessons to be learned, particularly in strengthening coordination and ensuring broader, more equitable participation moving forward, in terms of simpler access to visas, especially for Global South participants, and greater language accessibility.
“What we are seeing in Santa Marta must now show up in state-level action across the United States. This is where the transition becomes real, through utility decisions, regulatory policy, and community investment. For frontline communities, justice means not only ending fossil fuel use, but cleaning up the legacy of harm and ensuring no community is left behind. GreenLatinos State Programs that are top 10 Fossil fuel producers include Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, and California. They are in this work everyday.” said Ean Tafoya, Vice President of State Programs at GreenLatinos.
GreenLatinos will continue working alongside international partners to ensure that the outcomes of this Conference lead to meaningful progress toward a just, equitable, and fossil fuel-free future.
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About GreenLatinos
GreenLatinos (NOTE: GreenLatinos is ONE WORD) is an active comunidad of Latino/a/e leaders, emboldened by the power and wisdom of our culture, united to demand equity and dismantle racism, resourced to win our environmental, conservation, and climate justice battles, and driven to secure our political, economic, cultural, and environmental liberation.
GreenLatinos (NOTA: GreenLatinos es UNA PALABRA) es una comunidad activa de líderes latinos/a/e, envalentonados por el poder y la sabiduría de nuestra cultura, unidos para exigir equidad y desmantelar el racismo, con recursos para ganar nuestra justicia ambiental, batallas de conservación, climáticas e impulsados a asegurar nuestra liberación política, económica, cultural y ambiental.
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