A coalition of countries seeking to accelerate the global transition away from fossil fuels is preparing to unveil new national plans at the ongoing United Nations climate talks, known as COP31, in Antalya, Turkey, pressing ahead despite the withdrawal of Colombia, one of its founding members. The coalition, launched in the Colombian coastal city of Santa Marta in April, is expected to release a progress report this week outlining steps taken by participating countries, including additional national plans to reduce dependence on coal, oil and gas.

The initiative emerged from frustration over the slow pace of international efforts to reduce dependence on coal, oil and gas, the fossil fuels that are the main drivers of global warming. The Santa Marta gathering brought representatives from 57 countries together to explore ways of turning international commitments into concrete national policies. Unlike formal U.N. climate negotiations, it was designed for open discussion without pressure to reach binding agreements or commit to specific deadlines.S2S1

Colombia's withdrawal follows the election of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office in August promising to strengthen the country's oil and gas industry and revive exploration. He succeeded leftist President Gustavo Petro, who had made moving away from fossil fuels a central pillar of his environmental agenda and stopped awarding new oil and gas exploration contracts. Colombia's Environment Minister Fabio Arjona said the previous administration's restrictions on gas development had contributed to domestic shortages, forcing some industries to rely on more polluting fuels, and argued that expanding natural gas supplies would help reduce emissions by replacing dirtier alternatives.S2

Leadership of the initiative will pass to Ireland and the Pacific island nation of Tuvalu, which will take over from Colombia and the Netherlands, with a second international conference planned for July 2027. A statement from Ireland's Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment confirmed Colombia's withdrawal and said preparations were well advanced for a program of events in both countries next year, with further details to be announced at a formal handover during COP31. Neither the Colombian Environment Ministry nor the presidential office responded to questions about the withdrawal or whether Colombia would attend the next conference.S2