Our Shared Ocean attended the Global Sustainable Islands Summit in May 2024, an event dedicated to advancing sustainable development on islands around the world. Co-hosted by Island Innovation and the Government of Prince Edward Island, in the beautiful Prince Edward Island, Canada, the summit was a platform for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the exploration of innovative solutions. Our Shared Ocean was delighted to attend following the development of an online training course in partnership with Island Innovation in the months preceding the Summit. The 8 week course Best-Practice Skills for Sustainable Development in the SIDS culminated with an invitation to students to present their current research to the delegates, with attendance funded by Our Shared Ocean Mobility & Travel Grants.
It was a fantastic opportunity to meet the students in-person, renew acquaintances with our Island Innovation friends and network with an incredible group of professionals, researchers, policymakers, industry leaders and students passionate about creating a more sustainable future for island communities.
There were several inspiring key-note addresses throughout the week from Dennis King, Premier, PEI; Steven Myers Minister of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, PEI, and several more excellent interventions with a #SIDS focus including the Honourable Terence Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis; James Michel, Former President of the Republic of Seychelles; Kerryan James, Minister for Climate Resilience, Environment and Renewable Energy, Grenada & Mike Eman, Former Prime Minister of Aruba.
Our Shared Ocean participated in a number of events on behalf of IrishAid, Marine Institute which afforded the programme great coverage and significant net-working opportunities. The Island Studies Institute at Uni of PEI hosted local and international students for a sustainable practices workshop and Programme Manageer David O’Sullivan was part of a panel-discussion that offered invaluable insights into the growing field of sustainability and the diverse career opportunities therein. The panel also included Steven Myers, James Ellsmoor 🏝️ CEO Island Innovation, Dr. GALE T C RIGOBERT , CEO of Propel Ltd & former Government Minister of St. Lucia. We discussed why collaboration between researchers is critical and leads to effective knowledge transfer, mutually understanding, capacity building and legacy. I highlighted how our bespoke SIDS Sustainable Development course will enhance career opportunities and hopefully remove barriers to the students as they embark on their studies.
David moderated a further discussion ‘Promoting Innovation for Climate Adaptation on Islands’ between Aitazaz A Farooque, PhD, P.Eng Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation Ilive Peltier Educator & Author and Kathleen B. Senior Advisor, Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action, PEI. Discussions centered on how, as we move away from Climate Mitigation towards Climate Adaptation, we have to change how we respond. The session showcased innovative adaptation strategies being deployed across different island regions, highlighting their effectiveness, scalability, and replicability. A further panel ‘Navigating the Blue Economy: Empowering Island Communities for Sustainable Oceans’ provided an opportunity to introduce the influential role Marine Institute has taken in developing Irelands Blue Economy through various initiatives within Fisheries, Seabed Mapping, Port Development, Smart Bay and Marine Spatial Planning. The panel included Derek Ellis & Camilo M. Botero.
However, my highlight was Perspectives from Emerging Researchers: Advancing Sustainable Solutions for Islands where I had the opportunity to introduce our international students to the stage as they shared their own perspectives on enabling conditions and persisting barriers to integrating early-career research into the development of solutions for islands. The event was co-moderated with the excellent Jenelle Maillet Net Zero Project Officer, Government of Prince Edward Island.
It was a busy but extremely productive week and a pleasure to meet so many inspirational individuals, all fully committed to change, innovation and reimaging how we interact with our fragile planet and environment. I look forward to onward contact and collaboration and thank you to our hosts Island Innovation.
You can find a number of interviews Our Shared ocean conducted with GSIS delegates on the Marine Institute YouTube Channel.
