Santa Marta conference needs structural reform to break fossil fuel industry dominance
Original framing: “To avoid COP mistakes, Santa Marta conference must be shielded from fossil fuel influence” — Climate Home News
The COP process has historically been shaped by the same geopolitical and economic forces that benefit fossil fuel companies. Past failures, such as the lack of binding commitments in Paris, reflect deeper structural issues in international climate governance.
The Santa Marta conference must move beyond symbolic gestures and address the deep structural ties between fossil fuel interests and climate policy.
This requires legal reforms to limit corporate influence, financial reallocation to support renewable energy and community resilience, and the inclusion of Indigenous and marginalized voices in decision-making. Historical patterns show that without such systemic changes, climate negotiations will continue to be shaped by the very forces they aim to counter. By integrating cross-cultural knowledge, scientific evidence, and future modeling, a more just and effective climate transition is possible.