On 24 April, a coalition of governments, faith communities, and civil society organisations gathered in Santa Marta, Colombia, determined to do what COP30 could not: launch a formal treaty process to end coal, oil, and gas production, with faith voices at the table from the start. The 1st International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, convened by the governments of Colombia and the Netherlands, opened on 24 April in response to the Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels, which 24 countries have now backed. It aligns with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target and follows the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, which confirmed that states carry a legal obligation to manage how much coal, oil, and gas they extract. The World Council of Churches (WCC) sent a delegation to Santa Marta and is one of the principal faith organisations that helped draft a multi-faith call for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty ahead of the gathering. The call does not hedge: "The transition away from fossil fuels is not a matter of ideology. It is a matter of survival, of justice, of fidelity to the very ground of our being." "One of the greatest challenges of our time is the climate crisis and the transition away from fossil fuels," said Rev. Vilma Yanez from the Presbyterian Church of Colombia, and a member of the WCC central committee. "This first conference on the subject encourages us to continue building an ethical, pastoral, contextual, committed, and hopeful response to God's call to promote justice in creation.” The WCC’s position has been years in the making. The WCC 11th Assembly in 2022 stated that "use of existing fossil fuel sources must be phased out without further delay" and that "no new fossil fuel or nuclear energy projects can be developed." The following year, the WCC central committee voted to endorse the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, noting that "the primary cause of the climate crisis – fossil fuels – has barely been addressed." A November 2025 WCC executive committee statement went further still, calling on governments to: "Accelerate a just transition to 100% renewable energy, phase out all fossil fuel subsidies that artificially sustain the fossil fuel industry, commit to reducing and exiting fossil fuel production, adopt the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, ensure decent jobs for all, and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and other marginalised groups throughout the transition process." Bishop Luis Andrés Caicedo Guayara, Methodist Church of Colombia hopes that the Santa Marta conference will serve as a forum for in-depth dialogue, mutual listening, and collective action, enabling to strengthen concrete commitments to peace, social justice, the protection of life, and the dignity of communities. "We are confident that its outcomes will help chart paths of cooperation, advocacy, and hope, allowing us to respond in a coordinated manner to the challenges facing our regions", he said. Within the conference, a one-day Gathering of Spiritualities on 24 April brought together ecumenical and interfaith organisations to finalise a joint declaration for the Colombian and Dutch governments, shape technical and ethical contributions to the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, and sign an alliance agreement among spiritual networks covering 2026–2027. The conference continues until 29 April. Outcomes from the negotiations, including government commitments and the final conference declaration, are expected before the week concludes, advancing the international process toward COP31. 2022 WCC Assembly Statement - The Living Planet: Seeking a Just and Sustainable Global Community WCC executive committee statement, November 2025 — Proclaiming Jubilee for People and Planet Ecumenical Decade of Climate Justice Action landing page Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative Belém Declaration on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels | 
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