SANTA MARTA, Colombia — There was little talk of temperature limits or extreme weather on Tuesday as dozens of countries gathered in this coastal Colombian city to talk about how to transition away from the fossil fuels driving climate change.
The meeting, hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, instead focused on the nuts and bolts of how to transform energy systems dominated by oil, coal and natural gas. The coming day will see participants discussing topics such as energy access, how to switch from fossil fuels to renewables and how to close gaps in governance and investment.
For many participants, the collective focus marks a departure from decades of divisive diplomacy that has struggled to advance the actions necessary to cut the use of fuels responsible for the bulk of global warming.
“Let this conference be the moment when ambition becomes action, when diplomacy becomes solidarity, and when cooperation becomes the path towards a future beyond fossil fuels,” Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister, told a room of officials. “Let’s make this a turning point in history.”
