From 24 to 29 April 2026, RIPESS and its partners will take part in the First Conference on the Transition Beyond Fossil Fuels (TAFF) in Santa Marta, a key international forum for advancing concrete pathways towards a just transition in the face of the climate crisis.

Within this framework, RIPESS and its partners are co-organising the side event “From fossil fuel dependency to economies of life: Just transition, social protection and popular and solidarity-based economies as pillars of the move away from fossil fuels”, which will take place on 26 April, contributing concrete proposals from the grassroots.

Furthermore, this work is linked to other international forums promoted by the network, including its participation in the 2026 ECOSOC Forum on the Follow-up to Financing for Development (FpD Forum) in New York, strengthening a common agenda between climate justice and global economic transformation.

Event at the TAFF Conference:

“From fossil dependency to life-centered economies: Just transition, social protection and popular and solidarity-based economies as pillars for phrasing out fossil fuels”

📅 Date: 26 April 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 am
⏱ Duration: 90 minutes
📍 Venue: Sergio Arboleda University

Speakers:

  • Mr Mauricio Rodríguez, Director of the Department of Social Prosperity of Colombia and Executive Coordinator of the Ibero-American Network for the Promotion of the Social and Solidarity Economy.
  • Mrs Tatiana Roa, Southern Ecosocial and Intercultural Pact
  • Mr Sandra Moreno Cadena, Executive Secretary of the Intercontinental Network for the Promotion of the Social Solidarity Economy (RIPESS).
  • Mr Carlos De Freitas, Executive Director of the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV).
  • Mr Fernando Castrillón, Grupo Semillas.
  • Mrs Nelsy Gualdrón, Santander Peasant Reserves Collective

Co-organized by: Department of Social Prosperity of Colombia – Colombian Government and RIPESS

In partnership with: the Global Fund for Cities Development, Grupo Semillas, the Red Iberoamericana de Gobiernos por la Economía Social y Solidaria (RIFESS), and networks and organisations representing popular, social and solidarity economies and solidarity finance in territories affected by fossil fuel extraction.

The aim of the event is to highlight the contribution of popular, social and solidarity economies to productive inclusion, social protection and capacity building as key elements for building just transitions. It also seeks to demonstrate, through concrete examples, how local financial mechanisms can provide pathways towards a transition away from fossil fuels and to advance the co-design of a roadmap that facilitates these economies’ access to climate and development finance through locally governed funds.

Register here

Towards a just transition with social and climate justice

RIPESS and its partners will promote key messages for the conference’s final document:

  • Recognise popular, social and solidarity-based economies as the “last-mile economy” of the transition, integrating them into country programmes and climate cooperation.
  • Channel climate resources towards local financial mechanisms (cooperatives, community funds, solidarity-based banking) to boost transition economies.
  • Incorporate the SSE into climate policies and funds using scaling and impact criteria, recognising it as a key actor in strategic sectors.
  • Develop “SSE windows” within climate funds to strengthen decentralised and territorial financing systems.
  • Promote structured dialogue with governments and local authorities to jointly define priorities, policies and projects for a just transition.