UvA researchers draw up roadmap for the Dutch-Colombian climate summit
This weekend, around fifty countries will gather at the Dutch-Colombian climate summit in Santa Marta, Colombia. It is the first summit entirely dedicated to phasing out oil, coal and gas. A policy recommendation from twelve UvA researchers is intended to put this into practice. What are the chances of success?
It sounds somewhat surreal: a climate summit organised by the Netherlands and Colombia, one of the world’s largest coal exporters. Yet it is actually happening this weekend. From 24 to 29 April, fifty countries will gather in Santa Marta, Colombia.
The summit, which arose out of frustration over the failed 30th climate summit in Belém, now places the phase-out of fossil fuels at the top of the agenda. It also addresses exactly how phasing out fossil fuels would work – an issue on which little progress was made at the climate summit in Brazil. UvA researchers from the Seven climate institute have drafted a policy recommendation for the summit, setting out concrete measures to achieve a fossil-free world. Folia spoke to lead author and UvA lawyer Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh about this.
It feels like yet another climate conference. What’s different this time?
“Because the crux of the climate problem – phasing out fossil fuels – is finally the focus of the summit. That hasn’t been the case for decades. Even the Paris Climate Agreement is about reducing emissions, not about phasing out fossil fuels.”
“And since the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion in 2025, which makes clear that countries can be held liable for causing climate damage if they have done insufficient to prevent such damage, the legal basis for combating climate change is stronger than ever.”
Why does the Netherlands want to organise this climate summit? The Netherlands is not exactly known for its ambitious climate policy and has not yet phased out fossil fuel subsidies.
“You could call it hypocritical, because the Netherlands itself is still dependent on gas and could do much more to accelerate the transition. But you can also look at it another way. The Netherlands does not necessarily have to be perfect itself to be able to show political leadership. Climate change is a systemic problem that requires international cooperation. That is why it is important for a country like the Netherlands to use its expertise to contribute to solutions that reform the system.”
How will the Netherlands go about doing that?
“That is the subject of our policy advice ‘A Fair Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Is Feasible’. Deciding to phase out fossil fuels is one thing, but you also need to know how to go about it. To this end, we have collaborated with various disciplines – international law, natural and social sciences, and economics – to bring together discussions that are often conducted separately.”
“And it turns out: phasing out fossil fuels is not a utopian dream but economically and practically feasible. We also take climate justice into account; Professor Joyeeta Gupta shows that only a small proportion of the total costs of switching to renewable energy sources is needed to meet the basic needs of the poorest. Many measures will fall to countries in the Global South: 78 per cent of the world’s fossil fuel reserves are located there. For that reason alone, negotiations must ensure that those countries can be brought on board.”
What concrete measures follow from that policy advice?
“We propose six measures. Firstly, agreements must be reached on halting new fossil fuel extraction and phasing out existing production. Investment law must also be reformed. This law protects companies investing in the fossil fuel industry, meaning the state currently has to compensate for climate policy, whereas these companies should in fact be paying for the damage they cause to the environment. Thirdly, subsidies for fossil fuels must be redirected towards clean energy and social protection. There must also be financial support for the Global South, measures to safeguard access to and affordability of energy so that vulnerable people do not bear the brunt of the energy transition, and there must be a say for workers, indigenous peoples and affected communities.”
How much will this cost?
“The funding required for the Global South is heading towards 1 trillion euros (that’s 12 zeros, ed.) annually and will rise to 1.3 trillion by 2035. Countries don’t all have to cough that up themselves; that money can also be raised in other ways – redirecting fossil fuel subsidies, for example, would be a logical step.”
How likely is it that this advisory opinion will be signed at the climate summit?
“It is an independent advisory document and is not intended as a final declaration. Moreover, this Colombian-Dutch climate summit is not part of the climate negotiations under the UN climate conventions; that is the difference from the COPs. This meeting therefore does not lead to a binding mandate but is a political initiative of countries participating voluntarily.”
What is the aim of the summit?
“The primary aim of this summit is to form a coalition among the participating countries. And to discuss the roadmap, which Brazil already wanted to agree on at the last climate summit – exactly how we are going to shape it. There is also talk of a new treaty, but there is currently relatively little support for this.”
When do you think the climate summit will be a success?
“If agreements are reached for a coalition with shared goals, incorporating the majority of the policy recommendations we consider essential.”
And do you think that will happen?
“It involves a group of countries with the political will; they are doing this voluntarily, so in that respect, something should come of it.”
