Santa Marta, Colombia, April 2026 – As global leaders, civil society representatives, and faith-based organizations gather in Santa Marta, Colombia, for the First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, Laudato Si’ Movement is bringing a clear message from the Catholic community: the time has come to put faith into action and move decisively toward a just, orderly, and equitable transition beyond coal, oil, and gas.
Co-hosted by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands, the Santa Marta Conference represents a historic step in global climate diplomacy. The gathering is designed to advance practical solutions for transitioning away from fossil fuels and to build momentum toward a global framework capable of making a fossil fuel phaseout real.
For decades, international climate action has largely focused on pricing, trading, and reducing emissions. While these tools remain important, they have not adequately addressed the root cause of the climate crisis: the continued expansion and dependence on coal, oil, and gas. The Paris Agreement was an essential milestone, but it does not directly stop the expansion of fossil fuel production, allowing governments to commit to climate goals while continuing to increase extraction.
“The Santa Marta Conference is a moral turning point,” said Yeb Saño, Chair of the Board of Directors of Laudato Si’ Movement. “As people of faith, we cannot remain neutral while the continued expansion of fossil fuels deepens the suffering of the poor, harms vulnerable communities, and endangers our common home. This is the moment to turn our faith into action, to stand with those most affected, and to help build a future rooted in justice, peace, and care for creation.”
The climate crisis is already devastating lives, especially among those who have contributed least to the problem: people living in poverty, Indigenous communities, and vulnerable nations. For Laudato Si’ Movement, this is not only an environmental issue, but also a moral and spiritual failure. Inspired by Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, the movement insists that the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor must be heard together.
Santa Marta opens a new path by creating space for governments, civil society, faith communities, Indigenous leaders, experts, and other actors who are ready to move forward. The conference’s focus on implementation aligns with the core principles of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty: ending new fossil fuel expansion, managing a just and orderly phaseout, and ensuring a fair transition for workers and communities.
Laudato Si’ Movement is present with a delegation to help ensure that the voices of faith communities, frontline communities, and those most affected by the climate crisis are part of this historic conversation. The movement’s presence in Santa Marta is part of its broader commitment to advancing integral ecology, climate justice, and a fossil-free future grounded in human dignity and care for creation. Through advocacy, public witness, spiritual reflection, and collaboration with partners, LSM seeks to help strengthen the moral and faith-based call for an end to the fossil fuel era.
“For Catholics, this is a time for courage and coherence,” said Saño. “Our faith calls us not only to pray for creation, but to protect it. Santa Marta gives the world an opportunity to move from words to action, and faith communities have a vital role to play in making sure this transition is fast, fair, planned, and inclusive.”
The urgency of this moment is also shaped by today’s geopolitical realities. Conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Democratic Republic of Congo reveal how deeply fossil fuels are connected to global instability. Rather than delaying the transition, these crises show why a coordinated international effort is now unavoidable.
Laudato Si’ Movement calls on Catholics and all people of goodwill to use this moment to learn, pray, raise their voices, and advocate for leaders to support a just transition away from fossil fuels. Santa Marta is more than a conference. It is an opportunity to change the course of our common home.
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About Laudato Si’ Movement
The Laudato Si’ Movement is a global Catholic organization that inspires and mobilizes the Church to care for our common home. Present in more than 180 countries, LSM promotes ecological conversion through spirituality, advocacy, and local action inspired by Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’.
Media Contact:
Susana Salguero
Laudato Si’ Movement
[email protected]