Breaking: 57 Nations Gather in Colombia to Plot Fossil Fuel Exit – China and US Skip Talks
BOGOTÁ — A first-of-its-kind summit aimed at building roadmaps away from fossil fuels opened in Colombia on Monday, attracting 57 countries. However, the absence of the world's top two emitters — China and the United States — cast a shadow over the initiative.
The three-day Colombia Climate Futures Forum is the first in a new series of conferences designed to accelerate progress where annual COP meetings have stalled. Organizers hope it will produce concrete national plans for phasing out coal, oil, and gas.
Why This Summit Matters Now
Global climate talks under the UN have repeatedly failed to secure binding commitments to end fossil fuel use. The COP process has been criticized for producing vague pledges without enforcement mechanisms.
“This new format aims to cut through the diplomatic gridlock,” said Dr. Maria Elena Vargas, a climate policy researcher at the University of the Andes. “It’s a smaller, more agile forum where countries can share practical transition strategies.”
Background: COP Stalemate Spurs New Approach
After the landmark Glasgow Climate Pact in 2021, subsequent COP summits in Sharm el-Sheikh and Dubai failed to deliver binding language on phasing down fossil fuels. The latest COP28 outcome was criticized for loopholes that allowed continued expansion.
The Colombia summit grew out of frustration among smaller nations most vulnerable to climate impacts. It was convened by the Colombian government with support from the UN Development Programme.
“We cannot wait for consensus among a few powerful nations,” said Ambassador Luis Carlos Reyes, Colombia’s lead climate negotiator. “Those of us ready to act must move forward now.”
What the Summit Aims to Deliver
The forum’s agenda includes:
- National roadmaps for retiring coal-fired power plants by 2035
- Plans to phase out oil and gas extraction by 2040
- Financing models for a just transition in fossil fuel-dependent economies
- Cross-border collaboration on renewable energy infrastructure
Participants include 15 of the 20 countries most vulnerable to sea-level rise, as well as several European nations. Notably absent are China, the US, India, and Russia — together responsible for over 60% of global fossil fuel emissions.
What This Means: A Limited But Critical Test
Without major emitters, the summit’s decisions will have limited impact on global emission curves. Yet experts argue it sets an important precedent.
“This is a laboratory for the kinds of policies needed worldwide,” said Professor James Okonkwo, an energy transition specialist at the London School of Economics. “If even a small group of countries can demonstrate a viable path off fossil fuels, it builds pressure for the laggards.”
The summit is expected to produce a Bogotá Declaration outlining non-binding commitments. Participating governments will then be asked to submit national transition plans within six months.
“The real test is implementation,” warned Dr. Aisha Moussa, climate director at the African Centre for Climate Policy. “We have seen many declarations gather dust. This time, we need accountability.”
Key Absentees Raise Questions
The United States and China were invited but declined to attend, citing scheduling conflicts and the need to focus on bilateral climate cooperation. Critics say the absence undermines the forum’s credibility.
“It’s hard to call this a global initiative when the two biggest emitters aren’t in the room,” said Mark Reynolds, a former UN climate official now at the think tank Climate Action Tracker. “It risks becoming a coalition of the willing without the powerful.”
Nevertheless, summit organizers remain optimistic. Colombia’s environment minister Susana Muhamad said: “We start with 57. More will join as they see the benefits of collaborative action.”
What Comes Next
A second forum is planned for 2026 in Bangladesh, focusing on financing. A third, to be hosted by Denmark, will address technical challenges of energy storage and grid integration.
The Colombia summit concludes on Friday. A final communiqué is expected to call for a global moratorium on new fossil fuel projects, though observers doubt the language will be unanimous.
“The end of the fossil fuel era will not be declared in one summit,” concluded Dr. Vargas. “But the first step is for countries to say: we are ready to leave them behind. That step is being taken here.”