Caribbean leaders working on climate policy have begun laying the groundwork for the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, scheduled for April 28–29, 2026, in Santa Marta, Colombia. Earlier this week, they gathered to begin shaping a unified regional position on what will be required to make that transition possible.

Representatives from across the region met in Saint Lucia from March 2 to 3 for preparatory discussions focused on the governance, financing, and implementation challenges involved in shifting away from fossil fuels. The meeting aimed to produce clear answers to the practical questions that must be addressed if the transition is to be both equitable and aligned with climate science.

The Caribbean has long played a decisive leadership role in global climate diplomacy. The region was instrumental in securing the 1.5°C temperature limit under the Paris Agreement, and several Caribbean governments are among the 18 countries currently participating in diplomatic discussions on a proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty.

Dr. James Fletcher, CARICOM Climate Envoy said the region’s credibility in these discussions has been built over years of persistent advocacy. “If we are calling for a just transition away from fossil fuels, we must also clearly articulate how that transition will support small island developing states through concessional finance, debt reform, expanded energy access, renewable scale-up, and social protection for affected communities.”

The Santa Marta conference, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, was first announced at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. It aims to launch a dedicated diplomatic process to examine the pathways, governance arrangements, and financial mechanisms needed to achieve a global just transition.

The conference will bring together high-ambition countries outside the formal UNFCCC negotiating framework to move beyond dialogue and begin outlining the practical building blocks of a managed global phase-out of fossil fuels.

The decision to hold the first meeting in Colombia followed by a second conference in the Pacific region within a year was made during a senior officials meeting of countries participating in the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative last June in Bonn.

Alex Rafalowicz, Executive Director of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, said the urgency of the discussion cannot be separated from the continued expansion of coal, oil, and gas.

“The 1.5°C limit is at risk and we must be clear about why,” Rafalowicz said. “The industry will say it’s because of emissions, and that’s true. But beneath those emissions are their primary drivers: coal, oil, and gas. If we are serious about protecting 1.5°C, we must confront the planned expansion of these fuels. They are not only driving the climate crisis, but also worsening public health impacts, accelerating biodiversity loss, fueling the plastics crisis, and contributing to local pollution. In that sense, continued fossil fuel expansion poses a profound risk to human life and to life on our planet.”

The Saint Lucia meeting unfolded over two days. The first day convened civil society representatives to examine the scientific, legal, and multilateral context for a fossil fuel transition, including the role of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), while identifying shared priorities and red lines. On the second day, senior government officials assessed barriers and opportunities for transition in the Caribbean context and agreed on the core elements of a coordinated regional position to take to Santa Marta.

Participants also acknowledged the human consequences of climate change already being felt across the region.

Dr. Theresa Rodriguez-Moodie, Chief Executive Officer of the Jamaica Environment Trust, pointed to the recent devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa. “Communities were submerged, roads rendered impassable, and homes and buildings destroyed. Hospitals and other critical infrastructure sustained severe damage, thousands were displaced, agriculture suffered heavy losses, electricity and water systems were disrupted, and families were left trying to determine what, if anything, could be salvaged.”

Speakers emphasized that the success of any global transition will ultimately depend on whether sufficient financing reaches countries attempting to move away from fossil fuels.

Charlin Bodlee, Chief Technical Advisor at the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, said the region faces a significant climate finance gap that complicates efforts to implement its Nationally Determined Contributions.

“Studies estimate that Caribbean Small Island Developing States require substantially more finance than they currently receive to meet energy transition and adaptation targets, and much of the climate finance we do access comes in the form of loans rather than grants, adding to debt pressure rather than reducing it. Studies also show that climate finance flows to the region remain a fraction of what is needed, and the reliance on loan-based finance can contribute to fiscal strain and limit long-term resilience-building. Addressing this will require large-scale debt-sensitive mechanisms, increased grant finance, and innovative structures that support the Caribbean’s transition away from fossil fuel dependence while bolstering economic and energy resilience.”

As preparations continue for the Santa Marta conference, Caribbean stakeholders say they remain committed to ensuring that any global framework for phasing out fossil fuels reflects the principles of equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, and meaningful support for small island developing states.