Friends of the Earth Statement on the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels (Santa Marta Conference)

While the First conference on the Transition Away from Fossil Fuels did not produce a negotiated outcome, it has sent a strong political signal that the fossil fuel era must end.  

Friends of the Earth welcomes Ireland’s ambition in stepping up to co-host the next conference with Tuvalu in 2027, signalling the continued importance of North-South collaboration. 

Held from 24 to 29 April, the meeting took place against the backdrop of a global energy crisis fuelled by conflict and growing frustration with the UN climate negotiations. 

For Ireland, this moment carries particular responsibility. As we prepare to lead the European Union at COP31, and chair the next conference in Tuvalu, Ireland has an opportunity and a responsibility to help turn ambition into delivery.

CEO of Friends of the Earth, Deirdre Duffy said, 

The era of pledges must give way to implementation. Santa Marta has shown that there is a global ‘coalition of the willing’ committed to delivering the solutions that we know already exist. Ireland’s task now is to help scale them with urgency, fairness, and transparency.

As Ireland steps into this larger international leadership role, we must show that this transition can be delivered in a way that is fair, democratic, and grounded in the realities people face every day, including at home.