During a landmark climate conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, nearly 60 countries committed to developing voluntary national roadmaps aimed at phasing out fossil fuels. This initiative is a response to frustrations with traditional UN climate negotiations, which have often stalled due to fossil fuel interests. Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister, emphasized the need for a collective political effort to transition away from fossil fuels, stating that it must become a concrete endeavor rather than just a slogan. The conference, co-hosted by the Netherlands, also addressed issues such as trade and the economic dependence of producer countries on fossil fuel exports. Although the absence of major emitters like the US, China, and Russia limited participation, the coalition represents over half of global GDP and a significant portion of energy demand. Participants agreed to support poorer nations in developing their roadmaps and scrutinizing fossil fuel subsidies. The next conference is scheduled for early next year in Tuvalu, where further discussions will continue.