Governments are bypassing traditional UN climate negotiations to push fossil fuel transition initiatives. A new conference in Colombia brought together over 50 nations to discuss ending fossil fuel use, marking a shift away from the consensus-driven COP process that critics argue produces weak agreements.

The Santa Marta gathering excluded major producers like Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, and India, along with the US under Trump's administration. Participants accounted for roughly 20% of global fossil fuel production and 30% of consumption. Organizers deliberately excluded nations pursuing an "extractivist agenda" to maintain focus on ambitious climate action.

France stole the spotlight by unveiling its plan to end oil, gas, and coal use by 2050, though the targets weren't new. The conference established a new workstream to help countries develop similar strategies, representing a "coalition of the willing" approach that could build momentum without waiting for global consensus.

This parallel track signals growing frustration with decades of watered-down climate agreements. With Brazil preparing a fossil fuel roadmap for COP31 in Turkey and another conference planned for next year, the push for direct fossil fuel transition planning is gaining serious traction.