Global energy transition science panel launches to guide fossil fuel phase-out
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Apr 25
Global energy transition science panel launches to guide fossil fuel phase-out
9 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Apr 25
The panel, chaired by Vera Songwe, Ottmar Edenhofer, and Gilberto M Jannuzzi, was announced at the Santa Marta climate meeting attended by 54 countries and 2,800 civil society representatives.
The panel will advise policymakers on national and sectoral milestones to eliminate fossil fuels, with Colombia unveiling a draft roadmap aiming to reduce fossil fuel use by 90% by 2050 and generate $280bn in economic benefits.
The initiative seeks to help countries manage energy security, economic challenges, and climate risks, encouraging governments to develop their own transition plans and strengthen climate commitments in line with global 1.5C targets.
With major emitters absent, can this 'coalition of the willing' truly shift the global energy landscape?
Colombia plans a 90% fossil fuel cut, but how will it replace 30% of its export income?
Will the new science panel's blunt advice be more effective than decades of cautious IPCC reports?
As nations exit fossil fuels, who will ultimately pay for the massive social and economic transition costs?
Can renewable projects avoid repeating the land conflicts and injustices of the fossil fuel era?
With oil prices high from recent conflict, can nations afford the huge upfront cost of transition now?
Launching SPGET: A Global Roadmap to Cut Fossil Fuel Use by 90% by 2050
Overview
In response to urgent demands from COP30, the Santa Marta Climate Conference in April 2026 launched the Science Panel for the Global Energy Transition (SPGET) to provide rapid, science-based guidance for phasing out fossil fuels. Colombia showcased a national roadmap targeting a 90% fossil fuel reduction by 2050, highlighting economic benefits and just transition strategies. SPGET, hosted by UNEP, established specialized working groups to deliver actionable policy advice, addressing global challenges like political resistance and financing gaps. By empowering a coalition of willing nations with clear roadmaps, SPGET aims to accelerate the global energy transition, support future climate commitments, and overcome the limitations of traditional multilateral climate processes.