The ‘First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels’ was held in Santa Marta, Colombia.

02 May 2026

The ‘First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels’ was held in Santa Marta, Colombia.

Co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the event was attended by Mehrali Ecer, Deputy Director of Climate Change, representing Türkiye.

The conference convened delegates from 57 nations, alongside representatives from local governments, international organizations, civil society, the private sector, and academia. Participating in the high-level segment with an accompanying delegation, Deputy Director Ecer addressed the opening session, highlighting that Türkiye will steer its COP31 Presidency through the core principles of “dialogue, consensus, and action.”

Deputy Director Ecer further underscored that COP31 would serve as an implementation-led process, with a primary focus on translating high-level commitments into tangible outcomes.

Thematic sessions throughout the conference focused on critical pillars including energy security, the phase-down of fossil fuel production, economic restructuring, and the enhancement of international cooperation.