Santa Marta, Colombia, Greenpeace is urging governments attending the Santa Marta conference to seize the current energy supply crisis amid the war on Iran to accelerate a just transition to renewable energy that protects people and builds long-term climate and energy stability.
At the midway point of the conference, Greenpeace Colombia activists displayed a message on the Malecon de Bastidas beach in Santa Marta saying: 'Renewables Power Peace' and called on the attending countries to 'End Fossil Fuels'. Activists also displayed small windmills to symbolise the potential and reliability of renewable energy.
Rodrigo Estrada, Senior Climate Advisor, Greenpeace International said: "Phasing out oil, gas and coal means phasing in stability and Santa Marta can accelerate a just transition away from fossil fuels. In contrast to the dangerous energy supply crisis, the conference shows there's light on the horizon and that energy solutions for a viable future are achieved through cooperation rather than conflict. Now it's time for the Santa Marta coalition of committed states to put words into action."
To coincide with the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Greenpeace International has produced a policy briefing outlining the core elements of a just transition and the urgent, priority actions needed from national governments and through global co-operation to make it a reality.[1] Greenpeace will also have a delegation of climate and energy policy experts on site in Santa Marta.
Laura Caicedo, Campaigns Coordinator, Greenpeace Colombia said: "Colombia has everything it needs to lead an energy transition based on solar and wind power. This potential is a real opportunity to move toward a more just model, with community participation and tangible benefits for people. But for this to happen, we need global finance to be unlocked so that a national roadmap can be implemented. In a context of global crisis and instability, diversifying our energy mix is not only a climate necessity, it is key to strengthening the country's economic resilience and reducing dependence on fossil fuels."
Shiva Gounden, Head of Pacific, Greenpeace Australia Pacific said: "As illegal wars and political power plays choke the world's energy supply, Pacific communities are again bearing the brunt of a crisis they did not create. We come together in Santa Marta at an historic turning point – a moment of great disruption but also opportunity to free ourselves from the fossil fuel stranglehold by transitioning towards clean, homegrown renewables. This is no longer just a climate necessity, it is the path to global peace and energy security, and the safe future of communities around the world."
Anna Cárcamo, Climate Politics Specialist at Greenpeace Brazil said: "The transition away from fossil fuels is urgent, and it must be just. For it to be just, there must be provision of quality finance from developed countries to developing countries to implement these transitions and measures to guarantee human rights, job security, resilience, equitable energy access and effective participation. The Roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels led by the COP30 Presidency and the Santa Marta Conference provide opportunities to drive this transition to a new system, one that protects people and nature and benefits local communities and territories in the Global South, rather than reproducing colonial extractivist models".
