ActionAid backs landmark call by the Global South for a binding fossil fuel phase-out treaty at Santa Marta conference.
As the high-level summit on Transitioning away from Fossil Fuels starts in Santa Marta, Colombia today, ActionAid welcomes the call from an emerging coalition of Global South countries for a new legal instrument to phase out fossil fuels.
Ministers and officials representing governments from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific met for a three-day conference in advance of the official Santa Marta summit, and concluded their discussions yesterday.
“It’s no coincidence that the countries being hit hardest by climate change are the first to want to phase out fossil fuels,” says Teresa Anderson, Global Lead on climate justice for ActionAid International.
“This shows that there is a huge appetite for the Santa Marta conference to set the stage for a Fossil Fuel Treaty.
“UN climate negotiations continue to be essential for bringing every country into alignment. But a new Treaty can act as a parallel and complementary space for those that want to move faster in key areas such as phasing out fossil fuels, just transitions and debt justice, without first having to get sign-off from all nations.
“This has the potential to change the global dynamic around fossil fuel governance. The conversation is shifting from ‘hold your horses’ to ‘let’s just get on with it!”
The era of fossil fuels must end. Countries on the frontline of the crisis are leading the way, making history and it is time the rest of the world caught up."
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Teresa is available for media engagements. Contact media-enquiries@actionaid.org to arrange.