"War can delay, but cannot derail the just transition away from fossil fuels"

KUALA LUMPUR, 30 March 2026 — Today, amidst growing geopolitical instability which has exacerbated impacts of climate change, a collective of civil society actors have launched the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Climate Justice for Southeast Asia - South Asia, following a 2-day meeting filled with intensive discussions on regional demands for climate finance, just transition, loss and damage, and adaptation. 

The Southeast Asia-South Asia Preparatory Meeting for COP31 and Santa Marta Conference brought together government representatives, national climate negotiators, civil society organisations, researchers, youth and feminist actors, and development partners from 12 countries to strengthen regional cooperation and create a unified voice at the upcoming First International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in Santa Marta, Colombia, from 28-29 April 2026, and COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye.

The Kuala Lumpur Declaration marks a significant milestone in the global movement for climate, as it comes at a time when rising fuel prices, food insecurity, and price shocks due to the West Asia war are underlining the devastating impacts of fossil fuel dependency on developing countries. As one of the most climate-vulnerable regions and largest fossil fuel importers and consumers, the region’s reliance on global supply chains gravely compromises its energy security and intensifies the climate crisis. This Declaration calls for immediate and decisive action to protect the region and our shared planet from the escalating impacts of climate change—calling on international cooperation to address the threat of fossil fuels, and advance discussions on the proposed Fossil Fuel Treaty for just, equitable and orderly transitions.

Charles Anthony Santiago, Former Member of the House of Representatives of Malaysia, says:

“I think Malaysia should be brave and bold if we want to hit 50% [renewable energy in our portfolio] by 2030. Given what's happening in the Middle East, the war that is happening, there is a need to be self-sustaining so we are not dependent on foreign countries. Opening coal mines is gonna take time but getting the solar industry running is much faster than going back to coal. Business sees this as the future and this is where governments can understand that this is a way to move forward. This is the time for ASEAN’s leadership—national and regional leadership—towards renewable energy and a major push on solar energy.”

Ambassador Dr. Adao Soares Barbosa, Special Envoy and Ambassador-at-Large for Climate Affairs of Timor Leste, says:

“Developed country parties need to provide financial support to developing countries parties. We already established a fund for responding to loss and damage under the Paris convention, but even finance for this fund is very limited. Our need is beyond billions per year. [This Declaration] discusses how we can provide political pressure to Global North partners and other emitting countries to address the real loss and damage that the most vulnerable developing countries are facing. So if we fully operationalize their finances to support us, then climate justice is fulfilled.

Farah Kabir, Country Director of Action Aid, Bangladesh, says:

“Neither climate finance, nor a just transition will be possible, unless the structures and the institutions are changed. They are highly power-based. They are hierarchical, and also very patriarchal. The climate finance debate started a long time ago. Promises and pledges were made every year, and not delivered. So they need to be delivered. They need to be gender responsive because you have to understand the care work, the decent work, the aspirations of the young people, the structural inequalities that exist in the society, and how that needs to be addressed. So when we apply the feminist lens, we talk about recognition–recognition of women's work, recognition of the community and the indigenous world. Redistribution, because it's important to shift resources away from existing industries, to care-oriented economies, and adaptations that are sustainable. We have a lot of discussion of energy efficiency. We need to talk about energy sufficiency as well. If not now, when?”

Lidy Nacpil, Coordinator, Asian People’s Movement on Debt and Development & Asia Coordinator for Santa Marta Conference, says:

“We are really campaigning hard so that this crisis has the least impact on derailing the coal phaseout. But that means we also have to work harder in showing governments that it is a much more logical, economical, and strategic choice of scaling up renewables. What does the war have to do with climate change? Everything. If we're going to have this kind of international situation of war, conflict, and what we call the geopolitics of destruction by the United States, there is no way of addressing this issue without having a global lens. We need to begin with that in the current context.”

Harjeet Singh, Strategic Advisor and Asia Lead of the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative, says:

"War can delay, but cannot derail the transition away from fossil fuels. When we talk about a just, equitable, and orderly transition, it is not possible unless and until we have a framework and a global governance to deal with it. The reality is that over the last 30 plus years since we got the climate convention or even the Paris Agreement, we don't see those words which are responsible for the climate crisis: coal, oil and gas. 

It's a clear invisible handprint of the fossil fuel industry that did not allow that to get under the scanner so that we hold them to account. Existing agreements cannot cover all aspects of climate action when it is so complex, and deals with so many sectors and disciplines. The supply side of the problem is fossil fuels—that’s why we need a Fossil Fuel Treaty as a companion to the Paris Agreement."

Nithi Nesadurai, Director & Regional Coordinator of Climate Action Network Southeast Asia, says:

“The evidence is overwhelming that sharp spikes in the price of fossil fuels lead to 50 per cent of the profits going to the top 1 per cent of the population. With the bottom 50 per cent only receiving 1 per cent of the profits, the spikes exacerbate inequality. Justly transitioning to renewable energy with energy efficiency will enable governments to alleviate inequality and achieve energy sovereignty. 

This Regional Meeting and Kuala Lumpur Declaration also signal the opportunity, potential and appetite for greater cooperation in the Global South to proactively respond to the disruption and destabilisation caused by the ongoing war and its devastating impacts on the climate and environment.”

Mustafa Talpur, Regional Head of Advocacy and Campaign of Oxfam International says:

“The collective Kuala Lumpur Declaration reflects what Oxfam’s research makes obvious: the richest countries and corporations are driving the climate crisis while the most vulnerable communities in the Global South pay the heaviest price reinforcing existing inequalities. A just transition away from fossil fuels must redistribute power and resources, make rich polluters pay through windfall taxes and wealth levies, and deliver real, grant-based climate finance to frontline communities.”

The Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Climate Justice for Southeast Asia - South Asia calls for the following demands:

• Developed Countries' Accountability
• Adequate, Non-Debt-Creating Finance
• Meeting UNFCCC Finance Targets
• Enhanced MDB Accountability and Alternative Sources
• A Just Transition for Systemic Change
• Structural Reform and Global Governance
• A Fossil Fuel Treaty
• Advancing International Cooperation
• Accelerated Technology Transfer
• Justice in Critical Mineral Supply Chains
• Removal of ISDS Mechanisms
• Adaptation-Mitigation Parity
• Scaling Adaptation Finance
• Unrestricted Financial Access
• Closing Implementation Gaps in National Adaptation Plans
• Actionable GGA Indicators 

Southeast Asia-South Asia civil society will carry these demands to the upcoming International Conference on Transitioning away from Fossil Fuels and succeeding global climate convenings. While the Conference next month is not a negotiating space, it offers a crucial platform for governments and key actors to focus on a just transition. Addressing significant economic and political barriers, particularly the Global South's debt crisis, is essential, as massive debt payments undermine climate finance flows. Therefore, debt cancellation and the mobilization of public climate finance—through measures like a wealth tax on billionaires—are vital. This must be paired with a broader People’s Roadmap focused on the rapid, equitable buildup of renewable energy to tackle both fossil fuel dependence and energy poverty.