The Transition Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) gathering, held in Santa Marta and ending on Wednesday, has been described as a “coalition of the willing” bringing together more than 53 countries alongside representatives from academia, the private sector and civil society. TAFF is framed as the first international diplomatic forum explicitly centred on how to shift beyond fossil fuels and scale up renewable energy.
The meeting follows the most recent UN climate conference, where negotiations failed to secure a clear agreement on phasing out fossil fuels, despite progress on climate finance, adaptation funding and efforts to counter climate disinformation. The lack of consensus has pushed many governments and civil society groups to seek alternative platforms to drive practical action.
UN Climate Adviser Selwin Hart told delegates that the latest global energy crisis, linked to the Iran conflict, has underlined how an energy system built on fossil fuels is unstable and vulnerable to shocks. Hart said net fossil‑fuel import dependence affects three out of four people globally, leaving households exposed to price spikes and disruption beyond national control.
Hart described the shift away from fossil fuels as a security, economic and development imperative, arguing renewables offer stability and sovereign control over energy futures. Hart also pointed to the scale of global energy poverty, with nearly 800 million people still lacking access to electricity.
UN Environment Programme Climate Official Martin Krause said momentum in Santa Marta reflects the real-world impact of market turbulence, with renewables, especially solar and wind, already competitive and often cheaper than fossil-based alternatives. Krause said electrification is expanding across entire sectors, with market forces increasingly driving the transition even where policy progress remains slow.
Krause warned that fossil‑fuel dependence is pushing costs higher at the pump and feeding inflation through food and consumer prices, increasing pressure on countries struggling to keep lights on and cooling running.
–UN/ChannelAfrica–
