countries wishing to transition away from fossil fuels are invited so that the discussions can be focused on trying to assess the challenges and opportunities of implementing solutions for a fossil fuel phase down. The conference will focus on fiscal lock-in, avoiding new extractivism, matching demand and supply and new types of international cooperation. With some 53 countries expected to participate along with civil society actors and academics, the conference is expected to promote science based implementation policy. The Netherlands, as host, will focus on the phasing out of the financial incentives for fossil fuels.

Eventually, the conference aims to produce a report in which potential enabling pathways for a just phase-out of fossil fuels is outlined, which can be used as input for the roadmap prepared by COP30. These proposals will revolve around the conference’s three main thematic pillars being:

1. Overcoming economic dependence
2. Transforming supply and demand
3. Advancing international cooperation and climate diplomacy

CLIFF’s contribution to the Conference

CLIFF argues that phasing out fossil fuels implies actively engaging with the different lock-ins that make the whole world so dependent on fossil fuels. These lock-ins include the:

• profitability lock-in (fossil fuel remains highly profitable to investors);
• discursive lock-in (dominant discourses such as overshoot, net zero, technological optimism) contribute to extending the life of fossil fuels;
• legal lock-in (the way contracts and investment agreements prevent a rapid phase out);
• investment lock-in (where borrowers in long-term contracts have to make enough returns on investment in order to pay back the debts they have taken);
• fiscal lock-in (where society is dependent on the tax revenues from this sector or dependent on this sector for energizing the economy);
• infrastructural lock-in (where society is locked-into using the fossil fuel infrastructure that exists because it is there and is cheaper);
• labour lock-in (where labour employed in the fossil fuel producing and using sectors resist change as they have no alternatives);
• behavioural lock-in (where society is addicted to the privileges that a fossil fuel life can allow);
• political lock-in (where politicians are dependent on fossil fuel sponsorship of their campaigns), and
• professional lock-in (where employees across the board feel that climate action is beyond their mandate).

Addressing all these lock-ins simultaneously enhances the opportunities of success for such a transition away from fossil fuels especially since this sector is so financially wealthy and all pervasive (Gupta 2026 in press). Moreover CLIFF argues that such phase out must be in line with Climate System Justice if it is to be effective (Gupta et al. 2025).

As the first ever Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels is set to start, Prof. dr. Joyeeta Gupta has, on behalf of CLIFF, contributed to several submissions.

1. First, CLIFF signed a joint letter of 220 economists and legal scholars to the President of Colombia on how to address the legal lock in and urging him to utilize the upcoming conference as a moment to remove Colombia from ISDS and forming a broader alliance to unwind ISDS. The President has already responded by retweeting on its contents
2. Second, CLIFF has contributed with a focus on Climate System Justice to a comprehensive report by SEVEN on A Fair Fossil Fuel Phase-Out Is Feasible: International Law, Earth- and Climate System Justice, and Practical Pathways for a Managed Global Transition;
3. Third, CLIFF contributed to another scientific report for the conference which will be further refined in the weekend in Colombia, and
4. Last, CLIFF will be presenting on the 10 lock-ins within the Economics and Data Workstream, co-organised with Carbon Tracker and is part of the Academic Dialogues of the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta.

CLIFF’s contribution to the conference has also been covered in several media outlets. See more information here:

• Financieel Dagblad
• ScienceMag