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A growing number of governments are adopting measures to limit new fossil fuel production, marking a significant shift in global climate policy as countries prepare for the upcoming first-ever International Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, the Santa Marta Conference.

According to a new database released by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, restrictions on fossil fuel expansion have increased steadily worldwide, with a sharp acceleration over the past decade. The trend reflects a broader move toward managing not just emissions, but also the supply of fossil fuels.

The findings challenge the long-held assumption that supply-side climate policies are too fragile to withstand periods of economic or geopolitical stress. Even during the 2022–2023 global energy crisis, many of these restrictions remained intact.

However, the database also highlights the contested nature of such measures, identifying at least 15 cases where restrictions were repealed or rolled back due to shifting political priorities, energy security concerns, or legal challenges.

“Governments need to understand the full picture if they are to deliver lasting energy security,” said Paola Yanguas, policy advisor at IISD. “Restrictions already exist across a wide range of legal and political contexts, and many have endured even during periods of energy insecurity and price volatility.”

In total, the database documents 58 active restrictions across 25 countries and 27 subnational jurisdictions. These include bans on new coal mining, moratoria on oil and gas licensing, and prohibitions on specific extraction methods such as fracking. Some measures also limit production in ecologically sensitive areas, including offshore zones.

The database arrives at a critical moment, as debates over fossil fuel expansion intensify globally. Discussions on the future of North Sea oil production in the United Kingdom and policy consultations within the European Union on Arctic governance illustrate the growing tension between energy security and climate commitments.

“Today’s policy debates are a reminder that fossil fuel restrictions can come under renewed pressure very quickly,” said Natalie Jones, senior policy advisor at IISD. “But the evidence also shows that many governments have chosen not to give way to short-term pressure, and that stronger legal design can make these measures more durable.”

The report outlines that the durability of such restrictions often depends on how they are designed. Policies embedded in robust legal and institutional frameworks, such as legislation, regulations, or formal agreements, tend to last longer than those based on informal commitments.

Additionally, measures linked to broader priorities such as environmental protection, water security, land use, Indigenous rights, and long-term economic risks, including stranded assets, are more likely to endure.

As governments convene in Santa Marta to discuss pathways for transitioning away from fossil fuels, the IISD database provides a practical tool for turning political commitments into actionable policy. It demonstrates that limiting fossil fuel production is no longer theoretical, but already part of the global policy landscape.

“Transitioning away from fossil fuels will require governments to manage not only demand, but also the expansion frontier of production,” Yanguas Parra added. “This database helps show where that is already happening, what kinds of measures are being used, and what it takes to make them stick.”

The Piece is from IISD…