On 8 March we wrote to Ed Miliband, Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and Yvette Cooper, Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs to seek confirmation that the UK government will be represented at the the forthcoming First Conference for a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels which is being hosted in Colombia from 24–29 April 2026. We encourage you to to use this as a draft letter for your own letter.
First Conference for a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels – April 2026
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF UK) has over 100 years’ experience seeking out the root causes of war and conflict, working through WILPF’s consultative status at the United Nations, and using negotiation and conciliation to bring an end to conflict.
In October 2024 we wrote to you enclosing a copy of the WILPF/ Fossil Fuel Treaty Organisation report Stop Fossil Fuels from Fuelling Conflict: Why the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty is an essential climate tool for peace and received a positive response confirming the UK government’s commitment to:
“being a progressive and constructive partner seeking to drive ambition in transitioning away from fossil fuels, resolve issues, support those most vulnerable and are experiencing the worst impacts of the climate crisis, and to make progress across the wider climate agenda on issues important to us and other parties”.
Aware of this positive commitment, we are now writing to seek confirmation that the UK government will be represented at the highest level at the forthcoming First Conference for a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels which is being hosted by Colombia, with The Netherlands, in Santa Marta, Colombia from 24–29 April 2026.
The outcome of COP30 in Brazil was disappointing because of the absence of any reference to transitioning from fossil fuels. Clearly, those countries and corporations heavily invested in fossil fuels were able to exercise their power to prevent inclusion of this critical issue in the final statement. It is therefore all the more important that the UK and other nations that recognise the importance of this issue cooperate to raise it higher up the international agenda.
The conference will advance international cooperation on transitioning away from fossil fuel extraction – reinforcing the objectives of the Paris Agreement and aligning with the recent Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which confirmed that States have a legal obligation to protect the climate, including by addressing fossil fuel production, licensing and subsidies.
Hosting this summit in a major coal port, in the world’s fifth-largest coal producer, sends a powerful message: fossil-fuel-dependent nations want to end their dependence on oil, gas and coal extraction, but doing so fairly requires unprecedented international cooperation so that no-one is left behind.
We have welcomed the government’s actions in closing the final coal fired power plant in the UK and implementing the decision not to issue new oil and gas licences to explore new fields.
We now ask you to act in accordance with the UK government’s stated position as a global leader on climate action and work with the co-hosts and international partners to take forward this vital agenda.
Yours in peace
