The Global Sustainable Islands Summit
The Global Sustainable Island Summit unites island stakeholders to collaboratively address unique challenges and develop tailored sustainable solutions.
The Global Sustainable Island Summit
Islands face a range of challenges unique to the constraints of their own geography. The limited space these communities have to manage results in issues that are not common within larger nations and the mainland – let that be waste management, energy independence, education systems, or climate change, the complexity of islands mean they need to develop solutions that fit their specific needs. This means that the best way to future-proof communities and find the answers to these challenges is collaborate with islands who share them.
The Global Sustainable Island Summit (GSIS) was created to complement Island Innovation's flagship virtual event the Virtual Island Summit (VIS) by providing an in-person opportunity for island stakeholders to meet, build knowledge, and share expertise on the challenges they face and solutions they are implementing. Held on a different island every year, the three-day event brings together local and international experts from a range of sectors around a common topic.
Madeira, Portugal
Prince Edward Island, Canada
St. Kitts and Nevis
Gran Canaria, Spain
The Conference
Organized alongside a local partner, the GSIS is a bespoke, intimate conference which draws high-level speakers from around the world's islands. Outside of major international industry events such as the UNFCCC COPs, the GSIS is one of the only opportunities for stakeholders from academia, civil society, government, and the private sector to meet and discuss island-centric topics. Demand for a small-scale conference encouraging discussion and collaboration towards long-term island sustainability is highlighted by the fact the GSIS has sold out every year.
Each iteration boasts a flexible agenda that can be tailored to fit the needs of each location, theme, and desired audience to keep engagement high and promote impactful networking. Where possible, Island Innovation integrates opportunities for off-site sessions, such as those at the University of Prince Edward Island's Climate Change Center, as well as facilitating grant funding for students and professionals from SIDS countries to travel and participate in the event through partnerships with programmes like Our Shared Ocean and Youth4Capacity.
Attendance and interest in this event has grown year-on-year, the initial event in Madeira drawing over 150 participants, and the latest iteration in St Kitts and Nevis over 600.