Colombia president Gustavo Petro tells 57-country talks on a green energy transition that fossil fuel interests could destroy humanity

Jonathan Watts and Fiona Harvey in Santa Marta, Colombia
Wed 29 Apr 2026 11.00 BST

The world is threatened by a “suicidal” model of capitalism that is leading to war, fascism and the potential extinction of humanity, Colombia’s president has said, as he convened 57 governments to address the climate crisis.

Gustavo Petro blamed fossil fuel interests for taking ever more desperate measures to prevent a transition to green energy. “There is inertia in the power and the economy of this archaic form of energy – fossil fuels – that lead to death. Undoubtedly, that form of capital can commit suicide, taking with it humanity and [other] life,” he said. “The question that needs to be asked is whether capitalism can truly adapt to a non-fossil energy model.”

Colombians will head to the polls next month to elect a new leader, with Petro, who was elected the country’s first leftist president in 2022, barred by the constitution from seeking a second consecutive term. The former economist and guerrilla member said the world was in a perilous position: “We are heading towards barbarism. And barbarism is the prelude to, or the very essence of, fascism.”

In the coastal city of Santa Marta, Colombia is hosting the world’s first conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels. Two days of talks among government ministers and high-level officials began on Tuesday, preceded by four days of civil society discussions and academic workshops.

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Who is not coming?
Many of the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases will be absent, including China, India, the US, Russia, Iran and Japan. Irene Vélez Torres, Colombia’s environment minister, told the Guardian their absence was not a problem, as the conference would bring together countries that wanted to push for a new pathway. “Whatever nations have not yet taken that decision, then this is not the space for them. We are not going to have boycotters or climate denialists at the table,” Vélez said.

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