Trump Excluded from Climate Conference

Trump Excluded from Climate Conference

Sixty nations convened in Santa Marta, Colombia, this week for the First International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, notably excluding the Trump administration. This gathering, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Colombia, aimed to accelerate the global shift from fossil fuels to cleaner energy sources, operating outside the United Nations climate conference (COP) framework.

The conference organizers stated that invitations were extended to a "coalition of do-ers" – governments actively pursuing a transition away from fossil fuels. This criterion led to the exclusion of the Trump administration, which has previously withdrawn the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and implemented policies expanding oil and gas drilling.

The initiative reflects a growing sentiment among some nations that the UN's consensus-based decision-making process hinders significant progress on climate action. Participants at the Santa Marta conference sought to overcome these perceived limitations by fostering discussions and commitments among countries aligned on the urgency of transitioning from fossil fuels. The conference concluded with participants aiming to develop more concrete plans for this transition.