This Thursday 5th March at 9:00 am (🇨🇴), the governments of Colombia and The Netherlands will host an event on the Colombian environment ministry's social media channels to share details about the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels taking place this April in Santa Marta.
Exciting to see the website for the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, to be co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands this April, is now live.
As Petro prepares to meet Trump on Feb 3, I argue in this new commentary for Backchannel that despite their various disagreements – and the potential for diplomatic fireworks – there is one unlikely area where a deal could emerge: Venezuela’s gas.
backchannel1.substack.com/p/will-petro...
Amid worsening geopolitics, the EU-CELAC summit showed that climate action remains a strategic priority for both regions.
In this @rielcano.bsky.social commentary, I show how they can enhance cooperation by developing fossil fuel transition roadmaps & confronting misinformation & disinformation.
The article will be part of a special issue on climate obstruction in the Global South edited by Carlos R.S. Milani and Ruth E. McKie. I am very grateful to various colleagues, particularly my supervisor, @peternewell.bsky.social, for their helpful comments and the @cssn.org for funding this work /6
It also argues that those actors opposing the contract pledge sought to politicize discussions rather than engage with some of the technical rationales for the pledge, which was part of a discursive strategy to characterise the pledge as disastrous for Colombia /5
The study argues that Colombia’s media represents an important site of climate obstruction and shows how some publications are not neutral actors in the energy transition debate but rather enable, amplify and circulate these delay discourses /4
It shows how opponents of the pledge combined discourses of climate delay with issues including energy security and economic stability, with various media outlets failing to challenge or contextualise these claims /3
The article finds that discourses of climate delay are widely used in five national publications by various actors who opposed the pledge by the Petro government to suspend the granting of new hydrocarbon contracts /2
Happy to share my first solo-authored peer reviewed article published in @climdevjournal.bsky.social!
It examines some of the main discourses of climate delay in Colombia’s energy transition debate in the national media.
Here's a quick 🧵 with the open access link and key findings.
Image in red and orange, with text blocks that read "Request for research proposals: Green fiscal policies, climate change, and the just energy transition in the Global South. Submit your proposals by 20 December."
Don't miss this research opportunity! 📝 How can carbon pricing & fossil fuel subsidy reforms drive sustainability while promoting equity?
Submit your proposals on green fiscal policies, climate change & just energy transition in the Global South by Dec 20, 2025! More info: go.unu.edu/70BRN
Important new report by @ember-energy.org and Transforma on Colombia's fossil gas supply challenges shows that eletrification and efficiency are the way forward to mitigate future growth in total demand. Fracking and locking the country further into fossil fuel dependence is not.
At COP30, Colombia pushed for text on the transition away from fossil fuels. But what's happening with its domestic energy transition? I discussed this w/ @juliaradio.bsky.social for an NPR article, which takes a sober look at the situation instead of repeating various dodgy claims made elsewhere.
HUGE WIN: UK Government pulls $1.15bn in support for the controversial Mozambique LNG project - putting pressure on the Dutch Govt to pull out too.
@financialtimes.com story: www.ft.com/content/b2ea...
🤥The #COP30 presidency said ~80 countries opposed a fossil fuel roadmap but that included 42 members of the Least Developed Countries bloc which denies taking that position. 14 countries were listed as both for and against!
🔥 investigation by @carbonbrief.org
www.carbonbrief.org/revealed-lea...
The piece says that Brazil's COP30 presidency hadn't responded at the time of publication so hopefully they might contact the authors to provide some further details on what happened.
What’s been happening with SUV sales in the UK? 🚘
SUV sales have continued to grow in the UK market this year - meaning more emissions, safety risks and road wear, and less space on our roads for pedestrians and communities 📈
Great to see the UK join 🇨🇴 & 🇩🇰 in ending the granting of new oil & gas licences!
The UK should now reject Rosebank & join BOGA.
As 🇨🇴 & 🇳🇱 prepare to host the 1st Int Conf on the Just Transition Away from FFs in 2026, let's hope the UK actively participates & supports 🇨🇴's country platform.
BREAKING 🚨: The government has just announced that they are ending new oil and gas exploration in the UK and have started a plan for workers and communities to transition away from fossil fuels.
🧵
Out of interest, which BBC piece?
COP30 BREAKING NEWS: The likely final text of the "global mutirão" has been published, ahead of the closing plenary
Here's the snap analysis from the CB team…see last line
unfccc.int/sites/def...
And the mutirao text is out -- and there's no mention of a roadmap for transitioning away from fossil fuels. Nor of fossil fuel subsidy reform.
unfccc.int/sites/defaul...
🚨 BIG NEWS from #COP30:🇨🇴Colombia and 🇳🇱the Netherlands will co-host the 1st International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia – April 28–29, 2026.
As scores of countries push for the inclusion of a roadmap to implement a just, orderly & equitable transition away from FFs at #cop30, Colombia has announced that in alliance w/ The Netherlands, they will host the 1st intl conf on a just transition away from FFs from April 28-29 2026.
On X, Colombia's Irene Vélez, has shared a letter sent to the #COP30 pres signed by 40 countries. It expresses "deep concern about the current proposal" & says "we cannot support an outcome that doesn't include a roadmap to implement a just, orderly & equitable transition to move away from FFs.”
Colombia's press conf will be at 09:30 local time at #COP30 to discuss the Belém Declaration calling for a UN roadmap to transition away from FFs. It will also share details about plans to host the 1st Inter Conf for the Phase-Out of FFs in 2026.
Webcast: unfccc.int/event/colomb...
FYI: the #COP30 venue was evacuated after a fire broke out in one of the pavilions
Participants are advised to return to their accomodations and await an update on the resumption of the sessions
Fire at #COP30 in Zone B in the Blue Zone.
Delegates instructed via email at 2:37 pm local time to evacuate venue immediately.
The BBC is following the emergency: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Webcast link: unfccc.int/event/colomb...
