After November's COP30 climate summit concluded with zero mention of fossil fuels in the draft text — a victory for obstructive petrostates — Colombia and the Netherlands took matters into their own hands. With the backing of 23 other countries, including Australia and Ireland, they pledged to establish their own roadmap for phasing out coal, gas and oil.
The two nations also agreed to co-host the first-ever International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, scheduled for April 2026. More nations have since backed the initiative.
“With the backing of 23 other countries, including Australia and Ireland, they pledged to establish their own roadmap for phasing out coal, gas and oil.”
'There is a clear momentum to phase out fossil fuels, and now is the time to capitalise on it,' said Sophie Hermans, the Dutch minister for climate. The coalition represents a grassroots approach to climate action, bypassing the often paralyzed UN negotiation process.
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