Civil society groups in dozens of cities have taken to the streets to ensure the People’s Roadmap remains at the heart of the official transition plan
Yesterday, we stood together to demand a real fossil fuel phaseout and a direct path to renewables. Calling gas a “transition fuel” is just a rebranding of the same old crisis. We’re pushing for a future that’s fossil-free and a just transition led by the people, not the polluters.. (Photo: Jason Valenzuela)
A massive wave of global protests swept across 38 countries two days before the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels convenes in Santa Marta, Colombia. Rallyists called on the delegates from 53 countries and the European Union for the first-ever intergovernmental talks focused on implementing a fossil fuel phase-out to deliver a concrete roadmap for a just transition.
“This Global Day of Action serves as a powerful public response to the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, bridging the gap between high-level diplomacy and the urgent needs of frontline communities from Asia, Africa, the Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Europe,” said Lidy Nacpil, coordinator of Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development (APMDD), and the Campaign to Demand Climate Justice (DCJ).
“From the streets of Manila, Dhaka, Karachi, Kolkata, the Gambia, South Africa and Nairobi to the summit halls in Santa Marta, a unified force of fisherfolks, farmers, trade unions, youth activists, and faith institutions is demanding a community-led roadmap for an energy transition that prioritizes people over profit,” said Carlos Pardo of Maleza, a climate and social justice organization based in Santa Marta, Colombia.
“The April 26 rallies come at a time of extreme economic pressure. A deepening energy crisis fueled by Middle East instability has sent fuel prices soaring, proving that fossil fuel reliance is a threat to both the climate and national security. Civil society leaders in the Global South are using this Day of Action to demand that the Santa Marta summit deliver more than just promises, but the core pillars for a just transition, ” said Tasneem Esop, executive director of Climate Action Network International (CAN).
“After three decades of sidestepping the root cause, the Santa Marta conference is finally opening the door to an honest global conversation on how to phase out fossil fuels — bringing together more than 50 countries. Mass global mobilizations send a clear message: we can no longer rely on voluntary promises that fail to deliver. Recent conflicts underscore how dependence on fossil fuels also drives war and economic instability. This conference must rise to the moment, seizing this historic opportunity to move beyond negotiating symptoms and instead confront the root cause with bold, innovative solutions grounded in international cooperation.” said Alex Rafalowicz, Director of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative.
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