Global push to ditch fossil fuels begins in Colombia's high-stakes climate talks

First Global Conference on Phasing Out Fossil Fuels Kicks Off in Colombian Coastal Town

This Friday, the Colombian coastal city of Santa Marta will host the first international conference dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels. Following four days of discussions among civil society representatives, government officials from over 50 countries will gather next Tuesday and Wednesday to exchange views—against the backdrop of the current oil crisis.

The focus will be on how to achieve a global shift away from climate-damaging energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas.

Participating nations include industrialized, emerging, and developing economies—many of which are themselves producers of coal, oil, or gas. Germany will be represented by Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary at the Environment Ministry. Conference hosts Colombia and the Netherlands aim to connect countries leading the charge on climate action.

The initiative also reflects frustration with the often slow and cumbersome UN negotiations, where more than 190 member states must reach consensus.

"This conference is of great significance for the least developed countries," said Sabine Minninger of the development organization Bread for the World. Though these nations contribute the least to global emissions, they suffer the most from climate change impacts.

"Africa is rich in renewable energy sources, yet they remain largely untapped," Minninger noted. Millions still lack access to electricity and clean cooking solutions. "The Santa Marta conference presents a crucial opportunity to address this injustice."

The European Union's energy supply remains heavily dependent on oil and gas imports from non-EU countries.

In 2024, the EU's import dependency stood at 57 percent, according to Eurostat, with domestic production covering just 43 percent of demand. Nearly all energy imports were fossil fuels—primarily oil and gas.

Within the EU, renewable sources now dominate domestic energy production. In 2024, they accounted for 48.1 percent of output, followed by nuclear power at 28.2 percent and solid fuels—mainly coal—at 15.2 percent. However, renewables still only met around 25 percent of total energy consumption.

Two-thirds of the EU's energy imports in 2024 were crude oil and petroleum products, making oil the most consumed energy source at 37 percent—particularly in transportation. Natural gas represented 24 percent of imports and 21 percent of consumption. Coal imports, at 4 percent, played a minor role, as did renewable energy imports.

The EU has at least diversified its supply sources. The U.S. was the top oil supplier in 2024, providing 16 percent of imports, followed by Norway (12 percent), Kazakhstan (9 percent), and Saudi Arabia (8 percent).

For natural gas, Norway remained the leading partner at 30 percent, with the U.S. supplying 17 percent. Algeria and Russia each accounted for 14 percent of net imports. Coal imports primarily came from Australia and the U.S.

Reducing energy import dependence is a stated political goal of the EU and its member states, and progress has been made. Renewables have seen a sharp rise in recent years, and overall primary energy consumption in the EU is declining. Yet structural reliance on fossil fuel imports persists—driven by the transportation sector's oil demand and industry and households' gas needs.