The city of Santa Marta, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, woke up this April 29 with the closing of one of the most significant climate meetings of the year for the Southern Hemisphere. Since last Friday, and over the course of five days, delegations from 60 countries gathered to discuss the future of the energy transition amid a global landscape marked by climate urgency, geopolitical tensions, and growing pressure on developing countries to accelerate their environmental commitments.
The meeting stood out not only for its technical agenda, focused on clean energy and green financing, but also for an absence that set the political tone of the summit: the United States was not invited.
The decision, which sparked debate even before the conference began, reflected a shift in the dynamics of these multilateral spaces, where countries from the Global South are seeking greater prominence and autonomy in defining their climate strategies.
On the other hand, the organizers highlight that this event aims to succeed where the COPs—the annual meetings led by the United Nations—have failed.
60 countries convene at Colombia climate summit without Trump
The conference is an initiative led by Colombia and the Netherlands, which gained momentum during the COP30 climate conference in Belem, Brazil. According to figures from the organizers, 2,608 organizations from different sectors and regions around the world expressed interest in participating in this meeting. They are joined by 97 national governments and 30 subnational governments that were invited, demonstrating the global reach of the call.
The profile of attendees reflects broad diversity. Some 48.5% correspond to non-governmental organizations; 16% to Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant and rural communities; 12% to social movements; 7% to the academic sector; 4.2% to the private sector; and 3.8% to labor unions.
Throughout the conference, participating countries stressed the need to build an energy transition that does not replicate the inequalities of the fossil fuel model. Delegations from Latin America, Africa, and Asia agreed that the shift toward clean energy must be accompanied by technology transfer, access to financing, and respect for each nation’s economic realities.
In that sense, the debate moved away from traditional rhetoric to focus on concrete proposals. Several countries presented plans to expand their solar and wind generation capacity, while others bet on green hydrogen as a strategic alternative to enter future energy markets. However, the overall consensus was clear: without sufficient resources, the energy transition risks becoming an empty promise.
One of the most discussed points was the role of developed economies in climate financing. Although the absence of the United States avoided direct confrontations, it left on the table the question of who will assume financial leadership in the coming years. In this context, the European Union and some Asian countries attempted to fill that gap, but with commitments that many still consider insufficient.
In regional terms, about 41% of registrants come from Latin America and the Caribbean, while 33% belong to platforms or organizations with global or multiregional reach.
“Los combustibles fósiles no solo alimentan la crisis climática, son también responsables de las desigualdades económicas y de los conflictos globales.”
La ministra (e) Irene Velez Torres (@IreneVelezT) reiteró que el modelo basado en hidrocarburos ha profundizado la dependencia… pic.twitter.com/nBACjCzjVb
— MinAmbiente Colombia (@MinAmbienteCo) April 28, 2026
Colombia, host and protagonist
For Colombia, hosting this conference represented an opportunity to position itself as a key player in the regional climate agenda. The government defended its commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and advancing toward a cleaner energy matrix, in line with its international commitments.
During the event, Colombian authorities highlighted ongoing projects related to renewable energy, especially in areas such as La Guajira, where wind and solar potential is considerable. They also stressed the need for a just transition that includes the most vulnerable communities and avoids negative social impacts.
However, the summit also highlighted the country’s internal challenges. Experts and representatives of social organizations pointed out that, despite progress, there are still regulatory obstacles, territorial conflicts, and infrastructure limitations that could slow down the energy transition process.
At this closing session, the participation of Colombian President Gustavo Petro is expected, who has made climate change and the issue of energy transition one of the pillars of his administration.
La ministra (e) de Ambiente, @IreneVelezT, informó que la conferencia internacional reunió a 500 académicos, 100 sindicatos, 40 parlamentarios y 10 gobiernos subnacionales, tras meses de diálogo previo.
Se anunció la creación de un panel científico internacional para apoyar a… pic.twitter.com/UvSUwSHdmr
— Presidencia Colombia 🇨🇴 (@infopresidencia) April 28, 2026
The absence of the United States and its implications
The non-invitation of the United States was, without a doubt, one of the most discussed elements both inside and outside the conference. Although the organizers avoided public confrontations, several analysts interpreted the decision as a clear political message: countries from the Global South are seeking spaces for dialogue where their priorities are not subordinated to major powers.
This absence also had practical implications. Despite the current government’s climate change denial stance, the United States has traditionally been one of the main actors in climate financing and technological development, so its lack of participation left a gap that is difficult to fill. Some delegates acknowledged that, without its presence, certain agreements could lose weight on the international stage.
At the same time, other participants valued the opportunity to debate without the direct influence of Washington. For these sectors, the conference made it possible to move forward with an agenda more aligned with the needs of developing countries, especially on issues such as climate change adaptation and energy justice.
“When the largest emitters have been present in COP negotiations, they have pushed to veto any debate on the need for a transition beyond fossil fuels,” said Irene Velez, Minister of Environment and president of the Santa Marta conference, referring to the repeated failure of the annual meetings convened by the United Nations on this issue.
Velez emphasized that “today, it is worth focusing on the more than 50 countries gathered here, representing nearly 50% of the world’s population, including consumer countries, producer countries, and vulnerable countries from both the Global South and the Global North. In that sense, today we are a new power.”