Addressing climate change requires ending the production and use of fossil fuels. Yet global climate change discussions rarely focus on phasing out fossil fuels, and instead concentrate on accounting frameworks for greenhouse gas emissions.The Santa Marta Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels in April 2026 offers an opportunity to focus on fossil fuels and how countries like Australia can phase them out.

Since signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, Australia’s fossil gas exports have doubled, and coal exports have increased significantly. Large exporters of fossil fuels, like Australia, avoid scrutiny of their inaction on climate by emphasising domestic emissions and avoiding discussion on fossil fuel production.

This paper discusses how Australia could phase out fossil fuels with minimal economic impact by implementing the following policies:

• ban new gas and coal projects
• establish a timeline for a fossil fuel phase-out
• eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
• increase taxes on fossil fuel production.