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The last major UN conference on climate change (COP30 in Brazil) ended without a breakthrough agreement on phasing out coal, oil and gas – but there were many positive developments, including commitments to increase funding for climate action, provide funds for adaptation and counter climate disinformation.
The issue of transitioning to a low-carbon global economy proved much more difficult (as was the case at all COPs) and many countries and civil society groups expressed their frustration at the lack of consensus on this issue.
That frustration has been channeled inward Transition from Fossil Fuels (TAFF), in Santa Marta, Colombia, which ended on Wednesday.
Described as a “coalition of the willing,” TAFF is believed to be the first international diplomatic meeting to explicitly focus on the practice of transitioning from carbon-emitting, finite fuels towards renewable energy sources.
More than 53 countries, across all regions and levels of development, both producers and consumers of fossil fuels, joined representatives of academia, the private sector and civil society groups, to chart an ambitious pathway to sustainable societies and economies.
Selwin Hart at the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels conference, Santa Marta, Colombia.
New imperative
Although TAFF was not hosted by the UN, senior officials from the organization were invited to attend, including Selwin Hart, Special Advisor to the Secretary-General for Climate Action and Just Transition, who said that the current global energy crisis, caused by the Iran conflict, had exposed the extent of “A A global energy system that uses fossil fuels is inherently unstable, unstable, and unreliable.”
While addressing the conference Tuesday, Hart stated that three out of every four people live in countries that are importers of fossil fuels, leaving those countries vulnerable to shocks they did not create and cannot control. End that dependency, he said “security imperatives, economic imperatives, and development imperatives.”
In contrast, renewable energies such as wind and solar power offer stability, sovereignty and control over our own energy future and represent the fastest and most cost-effective path to universal energy access. in a world where nearly 800 million people lack access to electricity.
Power generating windmills line the hills of Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.
There is no turning back
“There are no embargoes, price shocks, tariffs or tolls on wind or sunlight, he said.
Mr. Hart warned that political and economic forces opposing the transition are actively seeking to delay and undermine the process, cast doubt on the science, distort the economy, and undermine the integrity of climate information to protect the status quo and fossil fuel interests.
Senior advisor called for the Santa Marta event to mark the start of a new model of cooperation and sends the message that “the direction of travel cannot be changed, and this transition will be managed with purpose, partnership and urgency.”
An economic tipping point
That sense of urgency, unparalleled in climate discussions, is evident in Santa Marta, according to Martin Krause, Director of the Climate Change Division at the UN Environment Program (UNEP).
Mr. Krause, who took part in the conference, attributes this momentum to the highly volatile nature of the energy market and the real impact it is having. He argues that this could mark a tipping point for the widespread adoption of renewable energy.
“We’ve seen in recent years that renewable energy, particularly solar and wind power, is competitive in many markets and is often cheaper than most fossil fuel-based alternatives. So, we’re seeing a very strong move towards electrification across all sectors of the economy.”
Market driven
The market, said Mr. Krause, however, is already moving, even though progress in official climate negotiations is considered slow, and the public is paying attention. In some markets and countries, the transition “is already happening no longer driven by policy. This is market driven.
People are now feeling the difference at the gas pump, but this crisis is also putting inflationary pressure on the prices of food and many consumer products, as many things depend on oil and gas prices.”
Some of the worst affected countries, Mr. Krause, “can barely afford to turn on the air conditioning, or keep the lights on, because they are so dependent on imported fossil fuels. They realize that this is not a long-term solution for their economy.”
