The International Conference in Santa Marta, Colombia (24–29 April 2026) is the first global gathering dedicated to the implementation of a transition away from fossil fuels, marking a key shift from commitments to concrete action.

Convened jointly by Colombia and the Netherlands, the conference reflects growing international momentum to tackle the root causes of the climate crisis through a coordinated and just phase-out of fossil fuels.

Designed not as a negotiation forum but as a practical platform, it brings together governments, civil society, Indigenous peoples, academia, and other stakeholders to move from the “what” to the “how”. Its work is structured around three main pillars:

🔹 overcoming economic dependence on fossil fuels;

🔹 transforming energy supply and demand;

🔹 strengthening international cooperation;

with the aim of generating actionable pathways that will feed into global climate processes such as COP30 and COP31. A follow-up conference is already envisaged, likely to take place in the Asia-Pacific region, ensuring continuity and shared global responsibility.

Pax Christi International will be present at the conference, collaborating with longstanding partners, and bringing a message centered on an encounter of spiritualities for a transition beyond fossil fuels. Our contribution emphasizes that this transition is not only technical or economic, but also deeply ethical and spiritual.

We highlight the need for spaces of encounter where diverse spiritual traditions, communities, and movements can come together to nurture hope, resilience, and a shared commitment to care for the Earth and all people. This perspective calls for a just transition that goes beyond extractivist logics, centers the voices of affected communities, and integrates peacebuilding, ecological justice, and human dignity.

In this sense, we affirm that moving beyond fossil fuels also requires a transformation of values, towards solidarity, nonviolence, and a renewed relationship with creation.