Colombia joins the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance and confirms international climate leadership

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Tatiana Roa, Member of the Consejo Permanente para la Transición Energética Justa (Permanent Council for a Just Energy Transition), said: "Colombia joining BOGA is great news and embodies the government's commitment to transform the country into a "Global Power of Life." The decision aligns with the resistance movements against the predatory fossil fuel industry, which have helped bring the government of Gustavo Petro to power. Therefore, we welcome this new political step, and we hope that Colombia's membership in this alliance will mean opportunities to access greater technical and financial resources to move away from fossil fuels dependence. As civil society, we stand ready to support the government in the challenges this transition represents for Colombia and the world. Colombia's entry into the alliance also demonstrates the country's concrete climate leadership, as it stands  alongside Denmark and Costa Rica to form a group of countries willing to cooperate in phasing out dependence on fossil fuels.”

Colombia's entry into the alliance also demonstrates the country's concrete climate leadership, as it stands alongside Denmark and Costa Rica to form a group of countries willing to cooperate in phasing out dependence on fossil fuels.

Romain Ioualalen, Global Policy Lead at Oil Change International, said: “Colombia joining the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance is a positive diplomatic development and shows great leadership ahead of the crucial COP28 that must enshrine a fast and fair phase out. Colombia, which is the largest oil and gas producer to date to join BOGA, is showing a real effort in planning a fossil free model of economic development and is a source of inspiration for the region and the world. Instead of further locking in its economy and its people in an unsustainable and risky fossil based economic model, Colombia is making plans for a just transition away from coal, oil and gas. Engaging with BOGA will ensure Colombia gets support from other countries that have made similar commitments to keep oil and gas in the ground. This move puts to shame claims of climate leadership from countries such as the United States, Canada, or Norway which  are less dependent on oil and gas revenues and  wealthier than Colombia, but continue to prop up oil and gas production in defiance of climate science.”

In addition, global economic scenarios foresee an inevitable decline in demand for oil, gas and coal, which will have a direct impact on producing countries, especially in the Global South, if they do not prepare accordingly. With this move, Colombia is working on avoiding the devastating socio-environmental and climate impacts, and consequent dramatic economic impacts.

Mark Campanale, fundador de founder Mark Campanale, founder of the Carbon Tracker Initiative, said: "Colombia's decision to join the BOGA is to be applauded. The country stands firm in its conviction behind the only policy proposal that can truly address climate, environmental, and economic disasters. By joining a group of countries leading the phase-out of fossil fuels, Colombia will not only be able to strengthen its energy transition policies, but will also benefit from a sounding board to promote its vision of a sustainable and just world, away from fossil fuels."

Alex Rafalowizc, Director of the Fossil Fuels Non-Proliferation Treaty, said: "Colombia's entry into BOGA represents a step towards a national energy transition, but also a step forward on the international climate stage. Colombia is giving a global scope to its climate leadership calling on the international community to recognize the urgency to work together to put an end to the fossil fuel production caused disasters. However, it is up to the producing countries of the North - historically responsible for the climate crisis, but also much better equipped to deal with it - to mobilize for a just transition on a global scale. The next step for Colombia is therefore be to promote the creation of a new legal mechanism that allows this transition to be carried out in the fairest and most equitable way possible, where significant obligations lie with those who have the greatest historic responsibility. It is time for Colombia to join the growing demand for a Fossil Fuel Treaty."

Yuvelis Natalia Morales, Member of the Alianza Colombiana Libre de Fracking (Colombian Alliance Free of Fracking): "For us, communities on the front line of exploitation, continuing fossil fuel production is the equivalent of signing our own death warrant. In the long run, the same will apply to Colombia and the planet as a whole. So yes, Colombia's joining the BOGA is very good news. However, what must go hand in hand with the country's international commitments is the implementation  at the territorial level to end of all new oil production. Saying yes to BOGA means saying no to fracking in our territories.

The announcement comes as the Congress considers a proposed law that will ban fracking and extraction of non-conventional oil and gas deposits, a civil society organisations`effort supported by the Governmentbut facing opposition from some of the industry-aligned forces.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Valentina Stackl, Oil Change International
+1 (734) 276 6260, valentina@priceofoil.org 

Viviana Varin, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty
+ 33 6 63 48 52 67, viviana@fossilfueltreaty.org