High Ambition Coalition Demands Binding Legal Treaty to Ensure Globally Equitable Fossil Fuel Phase Out

At the Santa Marta Conference, a coalition of 53 countries called for a binding legal treaty to manage a fair global transition away from fossil fuels by 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 1, 2026, 11:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Earth.Org via Martina Igini

The Santa Marta Mandate for Energy Transition

At the conclusion of a high-level summit in the Colombian port city of Santa Marta, a vanguard of "highest ambition" nations has formally proposed the creation of a legally binding treaty to manage the global exit from fossil fuel production. Led by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands, the conference brought together 53 countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, and various Small Island Developing States. The coalition argued that current international frameworks, such as the Paris Agreement, contain significant governance gaps regarding the supply side of fossil fuels. By advocating for a dedicated legal instrument, these nations aim to chart a definitive, time-bound journey away from the primary drivers of the climate crisis.

Addressing the Failures of Previous Climate Summits

The push for a specific treaty follows the outcomes of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where the final negotiated text failed to include a explicit commitment to phase out fossil fuels. Despite more than 80 nations calling for such language during the 2025 summit, the resulting "Mutirão Decision" focused on adaptation and just transition mechanisms without targeting the source of emissions directly. This perceived stalemate prompted Colombia to host the first dedicated international conference focused exclusively on the logistical and legal pathways for a phase-out. According to coalition ministers, the Santa Marta Conference serves as a "safe harbor" for states ready to move beyond the consensus-based delays of the broader UNFCCC process.

Legal Obligations and International Court Rulings

The legal weight behind a potential fossil fuel treaty was significantly bolstered by a July 2025 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The world’s highest court ruled that the continued production, consumption, and subsidization of fossil fuels may constitute internationally wrongful acts if they result in significant transboundary harm to the climate. Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change, emphasized in Santa Marta that this ruling clarifies the existing legal duty of states to protect the environment. The proposed treaty would translate these judicial observations into a functional framework, including moratoriums on new extraction projects and the removal of legal barriers that trap dev...