This is The Guardian.

It's been such a refreshing sensation to be in Santa Marta.

This conference could be the start of a real transition.

Last week, Global Environment Editor John Watts joined 57 countries, numerous NGOs, indigenous

leaders and participants from civil society in Colombia, where they'd gathered with one

major goal in mind.

Everybody who's here is committed to getting rid of fossil fuels.

It's been very exciting to be among the people who really believe that there is a positive

way forward.

For decades, bringing the world together to tackle the climate crisis has been the remit of the UN climate conferences, COPS.

But as we race past 1.5 degrees Celsius of heating and our emissions keep rising, frustration has been growing at the lack of progress.

At the last UN meeting that I was at, COP30 in Bel-M in November,

this subject to fossil fuels was so contentious

that it wasn't even mentioned in the final text.

The words fossil fuels did not appear.

And so ambitious countries decided it was time to break away and do their own thing.

It was one of the highlights of COP 30.

People were cheering in the aisles and clapping.

With Colombia leading the way, together with the Netherlands as co-hosts,

the first ever transitioning away from fossil fuels conference took place last week.

So it's been really good vibes. The key, as always, is whether you can go from good vibes

to important actions. The conference comes at a pivotal point for the world, as the closure of

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