The Santa Marta conference in Colombia has placed fossil fuel dependence at the centre of global security debate, linking instability around the Strait of Hormuz with wider concerns over energy vulnerability, conflict risk and the future of oil, gas and coal.
The first international conference dedicated to transitioning away from fossil fuels has opened in Santa Marta, Colombia, at a moment when instability around the Strait of Hormuz has again exposed the strategic vulnerability created by global dependence on oil and gas.
Co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, the 24–29 April conference brings together representatives from more than 50 countries, alongside experts, civil society groups and subnational governments. Its stated purpose, according to the official conference organisers, is to examine how states can move away from coal, oil and gas in a “just, orderly and equitable” manner, rather than treating the issue only as a conventional climate-policy question.
The timing has given the meeting added significance. A renewed energy shock linked to conflict in the Middle East and disruption around the Gulf has pushed energy security back to the centre of international debate. Delegates from 57 nations in Santa Marta are discussing policies to phase out fossil fuels, attract capital for clean power infrastructure, and address the dependence of some Global South economies on hydrocarbon revenues and debt servicing.
For supporters of the initiative, the argument is no longer limited to emissions targets. It is that fossil fuel dependence creates repeated geopolitical exposure: chokepoints such as Hormuz, price volatility, panic buying, supply fears, and the ability of producer states or armed actors to use energy infrastructure as leverage.
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important oil transit routes. Tensions there have already affected crude prices, with the Wall Street Journal reporting that Brent and WTI rose as markets reacted to the latest escalation. The immediate effect is economic, but the political consequence is wider: governments reliant on imported oil and gas are forced to respond not only to actual shortages, but also to expectations of future disruption.
That dynamic has been visible in previous energy crises and is again shaping policy responses. Fuel rationing, subsidies, price caps and emergency restrictions may offer short-term relief, but they can also distort markets and reinforce public perceptions of scarcity. In several states, the question is therefore not simply how to replace one supplier with another, but how to reduce systemic dependence on fuels traded through vulnerable routes and controlled by a limited number of producers.
The Santa Marta conference seeks to place that question inside a broader diplomatic framework. The initiative follows frustration with the pace of UN climate negotiations, where commitments to “transition away” from fossil fuels have often lacked enforceable mechanisms or detailed national plans. The European Parliament’s research service described the conference as an attempt to create a “coalition of the willing”, establish a science-led coordination process, and produce practical transition solutions.
A new global expert panel launched at the conference is intended to provide governments with technical advice on reducing dependence on oil, gas and coal. According to The Guardian, the panel will bring together climate, economic and technology expertise to help countries prepare transition roadmaps and manage the risks associated with energy dependence, geopolitical instability and climate change.
Colombia’s role as host is notable. The country remains a significant fossil fuel producer and exporter, especially of coal, but President Gustavo Petro’s government has sought to position itself as an advocate of a managed global phase-out. This gives the conference political relevance beyond the usual group of small island states and European climate advocates. It also highlights the central difficulty: many countries that recognise the long-term risks of fossil fuel dependence still rely on fossil fuel exports, royalties or employment.
The absence of some major producers underlines that problem. Associated Press reported that the United States and Saudi Arabia were not expected to participate, despite the conference’s focus on oil, gas and coal dependence. Without the largest producers and consumers, Santa Marta cannot create a binding global settlement. It can, however, help define the policy language and technical work that may shape future negotiations.
For smaller and vulnerable states, the issue is more immediate. Rising sea levels, climate-related damage and imported fuel costs have made energy transition a matter of fiscal and territorial security. For European states, the lesson is different but related: dependence on imported hydrocarbons can constrain foreign policy and expose domestic economies to crises originating far beyond Europe’s borders.
The central message from Santa Marta is therefore that fossil fuel dependence should be treated as a strategic vulnerability, not only as an environmental concern. The conference will not end the fossil fuel era. It may, however, mark a shift in how governments frame the issue: from climate aspiration to energy security, economic resilience and conflict prevention.
