Introduction
In late April 2026, 57 nations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, for a first-of-its-kind summit on transitioning away from fossil fuels. The result? Concrete plans for national roadmaps, new tools to tackle subsidies and carbon-intensive trade, and a fresh emphasis on science-backed action. This How-To guide distills that landmark event into a replicable blueprint—whether you're a policymaker, an NGO, or a climate advocate. By following these steps, your country or coalition can move from debate to decisive action, just as Santa Marta did.
What You Need
- Political will: Commitment from at least a third of your economy’s leaders (Santa Marta covered one-third of the global economy).
- Co-hosts: Two countries (like Colombia and the Netherlands) to share leadership and logistical duties.
- Small-group facilitation skills: Trained moderators for intimate, candid sessions (the “refreshing” format).
- Scientific advisory network: At least 400 academics (or equivalent) ready to provide rapid analysis.
- Data on fossil fuel dependencies: National inventories of subsidies, trade exposure, and energy sources.
- Venue: A neutral, accessible location with meeting rooms sized for 10–20 people.
- Reporting and transparency tools: Platforms to publish outcomes and track progress.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Convene a Representative Group of Nations
Begin by inviting countries that represent a significant share of the global economy—Santa Marta succeeded with 57 nations totaling one-third of world GDP. Focus on diversity: major emitters, fossil fuel exporters, small island states, and emerging economies. Use bilateral diplomacy to secure participation. Key tip: Frame the summit as a collaborative problem-solving session, not a blame game.
Step 2: Design a ‘Refreshing’ Meeting Format
Replace large plenaries with small, facilitated roundtables. Santa Marta’s co-hosts seated ministers and envoys side by side in rooms of 10–15 people, encouraging open, off-the-record conversations about barriers. Each session should focus on one topic (e.g., subsidies, trade, technology). This format builds trust and surfaces real obstacles. Appoint a neutral note-taker to capture actionable points.
Step 3: Launch National Roadmap Development
Agree on a common template for country-specific transition roadmaps. Each roadmap should include:
- Current fossil fuel consumption and production baseline.
- Phase-out targets for coal, oil, and gas (aligned with 1.5°C pathways).
- Key milestones for renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency.
- Just transition measures for affected workers and communities.
Step 4: Address Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Carbon-Intensive Trade
Santa Marta produced new tools to tackle these twin challenges. Create a subsidy audit mechanism: each country commits to transparent reporting of direct and indirect fossil fuel subsidies. For trade, develop a carbon intensity label for goods (similar to Santa Marta’s proposal) to discourage imports of high-emission products. Bilateral agreements can phase in border adjustments over time.
Step 5: Mobilize Science Through a Dedicated Panel
Precede the main summit with a science pre-conference (Santa Marta attracted 400 academics). Establish a permanent Science Advisory Panel that offers rapid, peer-reviewed analyses on request—e.g., “What is the fastest way to replace natural gas in our power grid?” The panel should also publish a unified ‘halt new expansion’ report, as occurred in Santa Marta.
Step 6: Embed Rapid Analysis in Decision-Making
Ensure that the science panel’s findings feed directly into national roadmap revisions. Schedule quarterly virtual check-ins where countries can pose urgent questions. Example: If a nation faces a lobbying push for a new gas terminal, the panel can deliver a 48-hour briefing on stranded asset risks. This quick-turnaround service was a highlight of the summit.
Step 7: Commit to Halting New Fossil Fuel Expansion
While not all countries may agree immediately, set a collective goal to ‘halt all new fossil-fuel expansion’ as recommended by scientists at Santa Marta. Include this as a core principle in the summit’s final declaration. Follow up with a monitoring mechanism—annual reports that track new licenses, permits, and infrastructure projects.
Tips for Success
- Build on existing momentum: Use the Santa Marta model as a template. The UAE’s simultaneous decision to quit OPEC (Reuters) shows that geopolitical shifts can create openings—leverage them!
- Counter ‘return to coal’ narratives: New Carbon Brief analysis indicates coal output will rise only 1.8% at most in 2026—use data to dispel myths of a coal comeback.
- Include marine and aviation sectors: The IMO talks in London (Guardian reporting) highlight tension over gas in shipping. Extend your roadmap to cover international transport emissions.
- Learn from Brazil’s forest success: Tropical forest loss slowed in 2025 (World Energy Institute data) thanks to enforcement—translate that determination to fossil fuel phase-out.
- Leverage clean-tech growth: US clean-energy installations hit record highs despite policy headwinds (Bloomberg). Show how renewables are outpacing fossils economically.
- Never forget justice: Mass incarceration is a climate justice issue (cited in original research)—ensure your transition includes incarcerated and marginalized communities in training and benefits.
By following these steps, any nation or coalition can replicate the Santa Marta summit’s spirit—moving from talk to tangible, science-based roadmaps that chart a course away from fossil fuels.