Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro calls for a Fossil Fuel Treaty at COP28

In a speech at COP28, Colombian President Gustavo Petro calls for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to end the exploitation of oil, coal, and gas. He argues that current fossil fuel deposits are sufficient to lead the planet to a 3°C temperature increase and subsequent collapse. Petro frames the climate crisis as a struggle between 'fossil capital' and human life, highlighting the imminent threat of 'ethnocide' for island nations like Tuvalu and the necessity of a rational transition for oil-dependent economies, including Colombia.

• President Petro advocates for a global Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty that mandates zero new exploitation projects worldwide, asserting that exploiting currently known deposits would lead to a 3°C temperature increase and the collapse of life on Earth.
• The speech highlights the existential threat to island nations, specifically mentioning that Tuvalu faces the disappearance of its entire population and culture due to rising sea levels, which Petro describes as 'ethnocide'.
• Petro characterizes the current global situation as a conflict between the profit motives of 'fossil capital' and the survival of the planet and human life, stating that technological solutions alone are not miraculous saviors.
• Despite Colombia's own economic dependence on oil and coal, Petro argues that a 'challenging yet intelligent and rational transition' is necessary for all oil-dependent nations to avoid what he terms 'omnicide'—the death of all living things.

APA

Petro, G. (2023). Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro calls for a Fossil Fuel Treaty at COP28. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/blog/petro-full-speech

Chicago

Petro, Gustavo. Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro calls for a Fossil Fuel Treaty at COP28. Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, 2023. https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/blog/petro-full-speech.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Petro |first1=Gustavo |title=Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro calls for a Fossil Fuel Treaty at COP28 |publisher=Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative |date=6 December 2023 |url=https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/blog/petro-full-speech |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{petro2023colombias, author = {Petro, Gustavo}, title = {{Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro calls for a Fossil Fuel Treaty at COP28}}, publisher = {Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative}, year = {2023}, month = dec, url = {https://www.fossilfueltreaty.org/blog/petro-full-speech}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }