First Big Meeting About Stopping Oil and Gas Use Starts in Colombia
Introduction
People from more than 50 countries met in Santa Marta, Colombia. It was the first big meeting about how to stop using oil, coal, and gas. The meeting was from April 24 to 29. It was not part of the United Nations climate talks.
Main Body
Colombia and the Netherlands planned the meeting. They were angry because big oil countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia stopped a plan at the 2024 UN climate meeting. The plan was to stop using oil, coal, and gas. The meeting in Colombia wants to talk about how to use less oil, coal, and gas. They talk about new laws, money, and help for people. Some countries at the meeting are small island countries. They are in danger from climate change. Big oil countries like Canada, Australia, the UK, and Norway are also there. Germany, France, and other EU countries are there too. The United States, China, Saudi Arabia, and Russia did not come. The meeting is for talking, not for making a new rule. Groups like Greenpeace and WWF said it is a historic meeting. Cristian Retamal from Chile said the talks can start a new world movement. A Dutch minister said they want to do real work. They want to stop giving money to oil and gas companies. Nikki Reisch from a law group said this meeting is a big change. Canada sent people to talk, but not its top leaders. Canada said it wants to help the conversation. But Canada''s oil and gas sector makes the most pollution in the country. The meeting also talks about problems. Madeleine Wörner from a German group said the meeting cannot fix everything fast. Big companies may ask for money if they lose profits. Retamal said it will take many years to make a new rule. For the first three days, groups, teachers, and business people came. For the last two days, political leaders came.
Conclusion
The Santa Marta meeting will not make a new rule. But it wants to start more meetings. A second meeting is already planned in Tuvalu, a Pacific island country. This meeting is a try by some countries to make real progress. They want to stop using oil, coal, and gas. They can become a strong group at future UN climate talks.