New ACCLIMATE policy brief explores how the EU can contribute to the transition away from fossil fuels

A new ACCLIMATE policy brief, Towards a just, orderly, and equitable transition away from fossil fuels: Options and priorities for the EU after Santa Marta, identifies several areas where the European Union (EU) and its Member States could make meaningful contributions to making progress on transitioning away from fossil fuels.

While the need for a just, orderly, and equitable transition was acknowledged at COP28 in Dubai, progress within the UN climate negotiations has remained limited. At COP30 in Belém, parties to the Paris Agreement could not agree on moving forward with a global fossil fuel roadmap.

The First Intergovernmental Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, held in Santa Marta, Colombia, in April 2026, offered an opportunity for a coalition of willing countries to move forward. The conference resulted in the establishment of three workstreams and the announcement of a second conference, to be co-hosted by Tuvalu and Ireland in July 2027.

Building on these developments, the policy brief identifies four areas for EU action:

• Strengthening existing international coalitions, including supporting the second conference and initiatives addressing fossil fuel subsidies, production and international public finance.
• Developing new international coalitions, including transition roadmaps aligned with the Paris Agreement and cooperation between fossil fuel producers and consumers.
• Engaging within the UNFCCC process, including through the second Global Stocktake, the Just Transition Work Programme and initiatives launched at COP30.
• Complementing international efforts with domestic action, including strengthening the phase-out of fossil fuel subsidies and maintaining existing measures restricting fossil fuel production.

The policy brief is available in two versions:

• Short version: A short overview of the context, Santa Marta conference outcomes and four areas for EU action.
• Long version: An in-depth analysis of the outcomes of the Santa Marta conference and options for the EU and its Member States to contribute to the transition away from fossil fuels through international coalitions, the UNFCCC process and domestic policy measures.

The policy brief was authored by Harro van Asselt, Max Schulze-Steinen, Wolfgang Obergassel, Hermine Van Coppenolle, Hélène Van Rossum and Sebastian Oberthür.