On my last day here, I wanted to pour what energy I have left into bringing this update to you all. For the world, fossil fuels have been the basis of the energy that livelihoods are centred around. The climate crisis, energy crisis, and cost of living crisis are all tied to the extraction and export of fossil fuels, and we are led to believe that this is the only way, but that is a lie.
In the Pacific, we understand that our greatest source of energy comes from the essence of our people. Mana, mafana, abōn, it has many names, but you find it in our communities, in our stories, in our culture, it is in our voices.
Faced with the mortality of our islands, we have no choice but to be ambitious, to be the first, to be at the forefront, and it is because we know the real power in our region comes from the essence of our people that we can do that and know that even when our numbers are few, we never stand alone!
You will read of all the incredible things that have happened this month in this newsletter, but do not look at this as just another uplifting and exciting email. Read this as proof that our vision, our resolve, the work we are doing together - it is working!
In the midst of a world battling to find light in a growing veil of darkness, we must hold our torches high and continue to yell out from whatever corner of the world we are in and remind our people that another way is possible!
In the Pacific, this has been a journey that has taken years. Pacific states first called for a treaty on fossil fuels in 2015. Years later, in 2022, Vanuatu and Tuvalu became the first nations in the world to formally join the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative. This year, we saw these 2 great nations again lead us into the future as we met in Port Vila to unite behind the Tassiriki Call for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacific and then headed to Santa Marta, where we stood behind Tuvalu, who officially announced co-hosting the 2nd Conference on a Just Transition Away From Fossil Fuels with Ireland.
Next year, we look forward to finally welcoming the world to the Pacific, where you will be met with our culture, our drive and the call of cheeeehoooo from across our moana as we aim higher than we have ever aimed before!
For now, let us celebrate what has been a monumental and historical month for us all!
COUNTRIES CALL FOR A NEW LEGAL MECHANISM ON FAIR FOSSIL FUEL PHASE OUT
Gathered at the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, countries highlighted frustration with consensus-based multilateral frameworks influenced by fossil fuel interests and called for stronger international cooperation.
Governments reinforced the urgent need to negotiate a new international instrument to deliver a just, orderly, equitable, and rapid phaseout of fossil fuels. Many also pointed to the ICJ Advisory Opinion as further evidence for action.
This was raised across plenary interventions, closed technical discussions, and the synthesis reports of government positions specifically identifies a “binding fossil fuel treaty” as a transition enabler
Following the historic Santa Marta Conference, attention is now turning toward the next major milestone: Tuvalu 2027. Governments, civil society, Indigenous leaders, faith communities and frontline advocates will continue building the dedicated international process launched in Santa Marta to address fossil fuel production and support a just transition away from fossil fuels.
As we look ahead to Tuvalu 2027, we invite you to watch and share this new video about the path forward: tuvalu2027.com
SENIOR OFFICIALS AND MINISTERIAL MEETING PUSH FOR AN EQUITABLE GLOBAL FOSSIL FUEL PHASE OUT
A coalition of countries meeting in Santa Marta called for formal recognition of the need to negotiate a new international legal instrument to manage a just, equitable, and rapid phaseout of fossil fuels.
The three-day meeting included representatives from the 18 nation-states participating in discussion on a Fossil Fuel Treaty as well as senior representatives from observer nations – Ghana, Jamaica, Kenya, Malawi, Maldives, Nepal, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Saint Lucia.
Representing a growing group of frontline and Global South nations, the bloc emphasized closing governance gaps, advancing finance and cooperation mechanisms, and grounding any agreement in equity and human rights. Learn more
BANGLADESH IS ADVANCING THE CONVERSATION ON A JUST TRANSITION
A consultation meeting jointly organised by the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, Dhoritri Rokkhay Amra (DHORA) and Waterkeepers Bangladesh was held with the aim of reducing Bangladesh’s dependence on fossil fuels and promoting a sustainable, equitable and environmentally friendly energy system.
Speakers emphasised that a roadmap alone is not enough, and that justice and climate finance are critical. With rising impacts on marginalised communities and ongoing fossil fuel dependence, a phase-out must be backed by fair finance, strong policy, and people-centred solutions.
MALAWI ROUNDTABLE MEETING ON THE GLOBAL JUST TRANSITION
The Malawi Ministry of Energy and Mining convened a roundtable meeting that brought together government officials and technical experts to discuss the global just transition and the proposal for a Fossil Fuel Treaty.
As one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, where the climate crisis is deepening economic strife, Malawi underscores the urgent need for an equitable global transition. The dialogue offered a chance for stakeholders to deliberate on the provisions of a just transition that aligns with the country’s development priorities.
PACIFIC NATIONS LAUNCH LANDMARK DECLARATION
Ministers and senior officials from Tuvalu, Samoa, Fiji, Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and Vanuatu launched the Tassiriki Call for a Fossil Fuel Free Pacificduring the Port Vila II Ministerial Dialogue on the Global Just Transition.
The declaration outlines a shared vision for transitioning to resilient, 100% renewable energy economies and calls for the urgent negotiation of a global Fossil Fuel Treaty to support a just, orderly, equitable and rapid phase-out of coal, oil and gas
TWO NEW REPORTS
A report from the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative and the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) highlights the deep links between militarism, fossil fuel dependence, and the climate crisis, arguing that redirecting military expenditure could help finance a global just transition.
A report from the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, Oil Change International, and MENA Fem Movement for Economic, Development and Ecological Justice highlights the link between reliance on fossil fuels and rising debt in the Global South.
IN THE MEDIA: Momentum for a Fossil Fuel Treaty reached new heights in April, generating the largest wave of media attention in the seven-year history of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, with an estimated global reach of more than 8 billion people!
““Finally, finally, finally, we have a focus on 86 percent of what drives the climate crisis, which is fossil fuels,” said Kumi Naidoo, “We think it will be harder at the COP at the end of the year to pretend that fossil fuels don’t exist and not even mention it in the outcome document,”
“Tzeporah Berman, the founder and chair of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, said: “Santa Marta represents a historic breakthrough – the first time we bring together a group of nations willing to act. We are building a coalition of ambitious countries willing to lead and break the consensus deadlock that has paralysed concrete action on fossil fuels in the UN negotiations.”
“While the US, the world's largest economy has pushed back strongly in favour of coal, oil and gas, under President Trump, many other countries are now sitting on the fence in terms of the scale and speed of their move away from fossil energy. Participants at the Santa Marta meeting believe the real purpose of the meeting is to show those who are hesitating about the transition that there is a critical mass moving in favour of renewables.”
SOCIALS WORTH SHARING
Historic momentum towards a just energy transition
Ireland and Tuvalu have committed to co-hosting the Second Conference in the Pacific in 2027, bringing the development of a new international mechanism to equitably and orderly phase out fossil fuels ever closer.
Pacific island nations have long been on the frontlines of climate leadership
“My hopes for Santa Marta are that our people can see what our leaders are doing, and that they can appreciate the vision and the ambition that comes from it.”
