The Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, taking place in Santa Marta, Colombia, is the first international summit dedicated to ending the production of coal, oil and gas. Alex Rafalowicz of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative shares his views on the impact of the conflict in the Middle East on the phase‑out of fossil fuels. Swissinfo: How will the war in Iran and the energy crisis in the Middle East affect discussions at the international conference on fossil fuels in Colombia (April 24-29)? Alex Rafalowicz: The conflict in the Middle East serves as a stark, tragic validation of why the Santa Marta Conference is urgent. It exposes the fundamental flaw of an energy system built on extraction, scarcity and geopolitical competition: it inevitably leads to war and instability. When fossil fuel prices spike due to conflict, it is communities in the Global South who suffer most, facing war, insecurity and economic collapse. Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative Launched in 2020 and …