Santa Marta, Colombia– Hundreds of protesters took to the streets of this Caribbean coastal city on Monday, calling for an accelerated global transition away from fossil fuels as international delegates arrived for a landmark conference on energy transition.
The “March for a Fossil Free Future” brought together a diverse coalition of local residents, Indigenous communities from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Afro-descendant groups, youth activists, women’s organisations and international civil society movements. Their demonstration, marked by chants, banners and speeches, unfolded across Santa Marta’s historic centre in a coordinated show of solidarity aimed at influencing global climate negotiations.
The march began at the SENA Commercial hub and moved along Avenida Ferrocarril, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, before culminating at Plaza de Bolívar, a symbolic public square. Organisers described the route itself as a metaphor for the transition they are demanding: a shift away from extractive fossil fuel systems toward a more sustainable, equitable future.
The mobilisation coincided with the arrival of representatives from more than 50 countries attending the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, adding urgency and visibility to the demonstrators’ demands.
At the heart of the protest was a call for a complete phase-out of fossil fuels, coupled with a broader critique of economic and political systems that activists argue have driven the climate crisis. Protesters rejected what they described as “false solutions,” including reliance on technologies such as carbon capture, and instead called for systemic change grounded in justice, reparations and community-led decision-making.
Speakers throughout the event emphasised that the impacts of climate change are already being felt acutely in vulnerable regions, particularly in coastal and developing countries. They argued that meaningful climate action must include financial support and reparations from wealthier nations historically responsible for the majority of greenhouse gas emissions.
“The atmosphere here reflects both the physical heat of a warming world and the intensity of people’s demand for justice,” said Lidy Nacpil of the Asian Peoples’ Movement on Debt and Development. She stressed that climate finance should not be treated as voluntary aid but as a legal and moral obligation necessary for survival in frontline communities.
Tasneem Essop, executive director of Climate Action Network International, echoed that message, warning governments against delaying action. “Communities are no longer willing to accept incremental steps or symbolic commitments,” she said. “This is a call for a fast, fair and fully funded transition that restores dignity and sovereignty.”
The march also amplified voices from grassroots and frontline communities. Activists from Colombia and beyond highlighted the disproportionate impact of fossil fuel extraction on Indigenous territories, rural livelihoods and biodiversity-rich ecosystems.
Yuvelis Morales, a Goldman Prize recipient and youth speaker at the event, framed the transition as a generational imperative. “We are defending a future rooted in water, biodiversity and life,” she said, rejecting extractive practices such as fracking and calling for community-led solutions.
Others connected the fossil fuel economy to broader global inequalities. Haneen Shaheen, a regional coordinator from the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region, argued that fossil fuels not only drive climate change but also exacerbate conflict, debt and gender inequality. She described the transition away from fossil fuels as both a climate necessity and a feminist demand for justice and peace.
Youth representatives also underscored the long-term consequences of current policies. Alejandro Jaimes of the Alliance of Non-Governmental Radical Youth warned that existing debt systems trap developing countries in fossil fuel dependence, effectively passing the burden to future generations.
A recurring theme throughout the mobilisation was the demand for a “just transition” — one that not only reduces emissions but also addresses historical injustices and ensures that affected communities have a central role in shaping energy systems. Speakers argued that without tackling underlying issues such as inequality, colonial legacies and environmental exploitation, any transition risks perpetuating the same harms under a different guise.
The demonstration also built on momentum from previous global climate gatherings, including recent civil society mobilisations in Belém, Brazil. Activists said they are working to strengthen international alliances and push for more ambitious commitments from governments and corporations alike.
While the protest remained peaceful, its message was unequivocal: communities on the frontlines of climate change are demanding urgent and transformative action, not incremental reform.
