Over 100 Spanish Organizations Demand Spain Join Treaty on Fossil Fuels Ahead of Santa Marta Conference
Spanish civil society mobilizes over 100 organizations demanding government support for the Treaty on Fossil Fuels and a just transition ahead of the 2026 Santa Marta Conference.
- • Over 100 Spanish organizations launched a declaration demanding a just transition from fossil fuels.
- • The declaration calls for Spain to join the Treaty on Fossil Fuels and lead at the 2026 Santa Marta Conference.
- • Fossil fuel extraction is identified as the main cause of the climate emergency and social inequalities.
- • There is currently no binding international legal mechanism to curb fossil fuels or ensure a just transition.
- • Leaders from Greenpeace and Alianza por el Clima urge a legally binding plan and international leadership from Spain.
Key details
More than 100 Spanish civil society organizations, including Greenpeace, WWF, Amnesty International, and Friends of the Earth, have united to launch the declaration "For a Just Transition from Fossil Fuels." The event held at Madrid's Círculo de Bellas Artes sought to position fossil fuel phase-out as a key public and political debate ahead of the First International Conference for Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels, scheduled for April 24-29, 2026, in Santa Marta, Colombia.
The declaration stresses that fossil fuel extraction is the main driver of the climate emergency, exacerbating inequalities and violating human rights. Despite this, no binding international legal mechanism currently exists to limit fossil fuel expansion or govern a just, planned energy transition. The campaign has engaged 124 organizations and is pressing the Spanish government to take a leadership role at the Santa Marta Conference by formally committing to join the Treaty on Fossil Fuels and pushing for a binding EU mechanism to ensure an equitable fossil fuel phase-out.
Javier Andaluz Prieto of Alianza por el Clima highlighted the failure of three decades of UN climate negotiations, pointing out that fossil fuel production and financing continue to rise globally. He called for a clear, binding plan to guarantee a just transition away from fossil fuels. Ester Galende, coordinator of the treaty campaign in Spain, urged the government to arrive at Santa Marta ready to lead internationally on climate action and promote the establishment of a strong legal instrument to accelerate a just global transition.
Eva Saldaña, executive director of Greenpeace Spain and Portugal, emphasized that urgent fossil fuel phase-out is critical to stop further climate catastrophes. The collective message from Spanish civil society is clear: Spain must demonstrate political leadership by endorsing the treaty and fostering mechanisms to ensure an orderly and fair energy transition.
This article was translated and synthesized from Spanish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
