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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Environment & Climate

Oil Nations on Edge as New Climate Coalition Pushes for Fossil Fuel Transition

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A new climate coalition is pushing for a transition away from fossil fuels, gaining traction amid global energy crises.
  • The "coalition of the willing," including countries like Colombia, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia, aims to implement the Paris Agreement.
  • Oil-producing nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran previously blocked stronger language on fossil fuel phase-out, but recent energy shocks may shift political debate.

Nations reliant on oil exports are on edge as a new climate coalition emerges, advocating for a decisive shift away from fossil fuels. This movement gains urgency against the backdrop of global economic instability, exacerbated by conflicts and the resulting energy crisis, which has starkly revealed the world's dependence on oil and gas.

UN climate chief Simon Stiell highlighted at the Bonn climate talks that the Middle East conflict has not only caused immense human suffering but also triggered a "fossil fuel cost crisis" impacting economies worldwide. He emphasized that clinging to fossil fuels means importing inflation and economic instability, making a transition to clean energy a clear imperative.

the war in the Middle East was not only responsible for "immense human suffering" but had sparked "a fossil fuel cost crisis that's strangling economies everywhere."

— Simon StiellDescribing the dual impact of the Middle East conflict on humanitarian and economic fronts.

The recent "coalition of the willing" initiative, comprising around 60 countries including Colombia, the Netherlands, Brazil, and Australia, convened in Colombia in April. This group is dedicated to implementing a transition away from fossil fuels (TAFF), aiming to prepare the agenda for the 2026 COP climate conference in Turkey. Their efforts contrast with previous climate summits, such as the one in Brazil in November 2025, where oil-producing states like Saudi Arabia and Iran, along with China and Russia, blocked consensus on phasing out fossil fuels.

While the technical climate negotiations are still catching up, observers note that the recent energy price shocks have altered the political landscape. Countries importing oil and gas are facing higher costs, potentially creating a more favorable environment for discussions on energy independence and a faster transition to renewable sources. However, opinions remain divided on how effectively this TAFF initiative can influence the implementation of the Paris Agreement, with some nations, particularly in Africa, expressing reservations.

it had now become "crystal clear" that maintaining dependence on fossil fuels meant continuing to import inflation and economic instability.

— Simon StiellHighlighting the economic risks associated with continued reliance on fossil fuels.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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