Advocates Say COP31 Leaders Dodge Fossil Fuels as Santa Marta Coalition Builds
COP 31 Press Conferences • United NationsNovember 12, 2026
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With the conference entering its final week and a half, civil society leaders said on Nov. 12, 2026, that most world leaders at COP31 are still avoiding fossil fuels. They argued that a coalition of willing governments, not consensus, may be the fastest path forward. Speakers pressed COP31 to formally carry forward the COP30 roadmap on transitioning away from fossil fuels, known as TAF. They singled out Australia, which shares the COP presidency, for backing new coal and gas projects at home. A reversal of Colombia's landmark fossil-free zone served as a warning about how fragile those protections can be.
- Only the UK has clearly confronted fossil fuels among leaders, says former Colombian minister
- Santa Marta Conference drew 57 governments that showed climate action can move beyond consensus
- Australian Conservation Foundation says co-host Australia keeps pushing coal and gas expansion
- AIDA urges COP31 to formalize the TAF roadmap and back protected fossil-free zones
- Colombia reversed protections for 42% of its territory three months after a government change
Why it matters: Consensus rules have long blocked ambition in UN climate talks. A coalition-of-the-willing model could decide whether a fossil fuel phase-out advances even if it never reaches the negotiated text.
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