Ireland has been announced as co-host for next year’s sequel to the world’s first Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels.
The announcement came at the conclusion of the inaugural conference held in Santa Marta, Colombia, over the past week.
Ireland will co-host with Tuvalu, one of the collections of low-lying small islands in the South Pacific at risk of disappearing as sea levels rise.
The venue for the conference has not yet been confirmed but Tuvalu has said it wants to host the physical gathering, despite having a population of just 11,000 and limited infrastructure for an international event.
Minister for Climate Darragh O’Brien welcomed the decision to hand over to Ireland and Tuvalu after Colombia and the Netherlands were the first co-hosts.
“Ireland is committed to the transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean energy,” he said.
“Ultimately, the transition will secure sustainable, affordable and secure energy for our citizens and our businesses, while protecting the planet from the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
“I am heartened with the progress that has been made this week in Santa Marta, but this is only a first step.
“That is why I am delighted to announce that Ireland will be partnering with Tuvalu to co-host the second Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, in Tuvalu, in 2027.”
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The conference ended with agreement by the 60 countries attending to draw up national roadmaps setting how they will each wean their own societies and economies off oil, gas and coal.
The initiative grew from frustration with the annual United Nations climate summits or Cops, where all agreements must be unanimous, and the main fossil fuel producing and fossil fuel dependent countries repeatedly block progress.
Climate justice campaigners welcomed the agreement in Santa Marta as a valuable first step in ending fossil fuels.
ActionAid Ireland said the Government must not let the momentum slide and should begin work on a national plan to phase out fossil fuels straight away.
About 83 per cent of Ireland’s energy – for transport, heating and electricity generation – still comes from oil and gas.
“The conference was a watershed moment in which the collective mind became truly focused on the common cause of ending the fossil fuel era,” said ActionAid Ireland chief executive Karol Balfe.
Ireland was one of the original group of 24 countries to sign up to the initiative to have a “transition away” movement in parallel with the annual Cops.
Successive governments have also supported IrishAid to work closely with the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) in advocating for climate finance and assistance for small nations most at risk from climate change.
Tuvalu is one of the most active of the 39 Aosis member states.