First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: Briefing Published

The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (TAFF) will take place in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 24 to 29 April 2026. On behalf of the European Parliament, Juliane Schell, Max Schulze-Steinen and Wolfgang Obergassel from the Energy, Transport and Climate Policy Research Division at the Wuppertal Institute have produced a briefing on the conference.

First, the three authors briefly outline the context of the conference and explain the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels for mitigating climate change. They then analyse factors that facilitate and hinder the transition away from fossil fuels – including the current geopolitical situation and the fluctuating international engagement of key players in multilateral cooperation.

On this basis, the researchers outline the current state of the transition away from fossil fuels at a global level. They address the following aspects, amongst others:

• Relevant taxes and fossil fuel subsidies
• The development of the transition away from fossil fuels at the UN climate conferences
• Other initiatives to phase out fossil fuels
• EU measures to phase out fossil fuels
• An analysis of the role of the EU and the European Parliament in international negotiations and measures

First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels: Conference methodology, potential conference outcomes and follow-up actions

In the final section of the briefing, the authors focus specifically on the conference in Santa Marta: Firstly, they describe the conference’s methodology and way of working – which differs significantly from that of UN climate conferences. Secondly, they outline the potential results of and follow-up to the conference, potential developments and possible future measures, which they break down into five points:

1. Creating a safe, constructive environment that fosters ideas and transparency
2. Sending a strong political signal that the phase-out of fossil fuels is a political imperative supported and driven by countries and other stakeholders worldwide
3. Building momentum and expanding the "coalition of the willing", in particular through a second wave of states signing the Belém Declaration
4. Adopting a process, including reaffirming the commitment of participating states and the organisation of a second conference 
5. Integrating the outcomes of the TAFF conference into the UN climate negotiations, for example through an official presentation of the conference outcomes at the next COP

The briefing is available to download free of charge from the European Parliament’s website via the link below.