"There is hope here in Baku. This cannot be the future to which we resign island nations", says Saint Kitts and Nevis
On Tuesday, Hon. Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Climate Action and Constituency Empowerment, took the stage to address a powerful message during the Leader statements at COP29. She highlighted the severe impacts of climate change on SIDS and called out the inequities in climate finance, noting that SIDS received just 0.2% of global climate adaptation finance last year.
Hon. Dr. Clarke outlined Saint Kitts and Nevis’ unwavering commitment to sustainability, emphasising the imperative of decarbonising energy infrastructure, climate-proofing their utilities infrastructure and forging strategic partnerships.
She invited all island nations to convene in Saint Kitts and Nevis next year for the Global Sustainable Island Summit, co-hosted with the Island Innovation team while underscored the urgent need for concerted global action.
Exclusive Offer for COP29
In-person event: The Global Sustainable Islands Summit has been officially announced! Island Innovation and the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis will be co-hosting the 2nd edition of the in-person event in May 2025 in Saint Kitts and Nevis (Caribbean).
We will be gathering renowned professionals, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to address pressing challenges confronting island communities, focusing on Water Sustainability & Energy Nexus, Agricultural Resilience & Climate Adaptation and Climate-Health Interactions & Geothermal Energy.
Use the exclusive code “COP29” to get a discount (-$75) on your extra-early bird ticket, valid until the end of COP29 (November 30th)!
Day 11: What we are looking forward to today
- November 21st 2024
- 10:00 - 10:50 Baku (AZT)
- Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion
- November 21st 2024
- 10:30 - 11:30 Baku (AZT)
- Climate, Peace & Transboundary Pavilion
- November 21st 2024
- 11:30 - 12:30 Baku (AZT)
- Climate, Peace & Transboundary Pavillion
Are you enjoying the Island Voices @ COP29 Bulletins?
We kindly ask you for your feedback
Collaborative Efforts Power Climate Action at COP29
We started Day 10 with an insightful virtual event during which speakers discussed how Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and Subnational Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs) are currently stuck in a grey area in the legislative climate finance process when it comes to funding adaptation programmes, and the solutions to this status. Many thanks to:
- Hon. Josephine Connolly (Minister for Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Government of Turks and Caicos Islands)
- Vanessa Toré (Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Economic Development, Government of Curaçao)
- Mario Borg (CEO of Gozo Regional Development Authority)
- Angela Burnett Penn (Environmental Officer, Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Government of British Virgin Islands)
- Zahor El Kharousy (Deputy Principal Secretary at Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Government of Zanzibar)
James Ellsmoor, CEO of Island Innovation, moderated 2 panels yesterday.
In the first one, Siosinamele Lui (Traditional Knowledge Adviser, SPREP), Joshua Pangelinan (Energy and Climate Specialist, FSM), Dr. Aitazaz Farooque (Professor & Associate Dean at the School of Climate Change and Adaptation, University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI)) and Fred Patison (Climate Change Finance Readiness Adviser, Pacific Climate Change Centre (PCCC)) shared insights on leveraging traditional knowledge and climate science to drive ambitious climate action on order to build resilience in Pacific SIDS.
The second panel Response to Climate Change: The Special Case of Small Island UK Overseas Territories – Finance for Innovation and Research was organised by the United Kingdom Overseas Territories Association (UKOTA) in the UK Pavilion. Speakers included Minister Mary Creagh (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Minister for Nature), Hon. Dr John Cortes MP (Minister for the Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change, Heritage and Culture, HM Government of Gibraltar), Professor Dr. Matt Frost (Head of International Office of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Chair of the UK’s Marine Climate Change Impact Partnership) and CCJLA’s Noelle Young.
The Island Innovation team also organised a side event in the Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion on Empowering SIDS Youth: Driving Climate Justice Through Interregional Collaboration. We were pleased to present a diverse lineup of young experts from various Small Island Developing States (SIDS), showcasing their leadership role in climate justice. Many thanks to:
- Honourable Kerryne James (Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy, Government of Grenada)
- CCJLA delegates: Genesis Whitlock, Jeshua Bardoo, Whitney Mélinard
- Lindy Quek (Singaporean delegate)
- Joape Negra (CMP Youth Delegate, Fiji)
- Maximilian Teea (CMP Youth Delegate, Kiribati)
- Fathimaa Muhammad Ahmed (Student, Maldives)
In a session moderated by Vincent Diringer, PR & Editorial Lead at Island Innovation.
Adaptation, Resilience and Biodiversity
The Caribbean Biodiversity Fund organised an impactful COP29 session on the linkages between climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation and food security. Panelists explored innovative practices to support climate vulnerable communities to build resilience against climate change.
News And Key Insights
Today's island events at COP29
The Island Voices @ COP29 is also a platform to share information about island-related events during COP29. Here are some of today’s island related events:
Supporting a Climate Adaptation Strategy for Atoll Nations: Insights, Reflections and Way Forward
21 November, 9:30-11:00 AM (Baku)
Location: Joint MDB Pavilion
Org: Asian Development Bank, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Government of Kiribati, Government of the Maldives, and more.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities
21 November, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM (Baku)
Location: CARICOM Pavilion
Org: Caribbean Development Bank, OECS
Indigenous Peoples and Private Climate Finance Connecting with Equity & Integrity for Regeneration
21 November, 3:00-4:30 PM (Baku)
Location: UNDP Pavilion
Org: UNDP
If you have relevant COP29 updates or announcements, please contact us via [email protected], and we’ll be happy to share them (keeping in mind we have to limit promotional content).
Thank you to our Partners


The National Bank of Dominica Ltd. (NBD) is the premier financial institution in Dominica, with XCD 1.67 billion (USD 614.7 million) in assets as of June 30, 2022. Our unwavering commitment is to empower individuals, organizations, and communities to achieve their financial goals.
Operating since 1978, NBD has been a trusted financial partner for 45 years, offering an array of financial products and services to cater to the unique needs of consumers, small businesses, and corporate clients, locally, regionally and globally. Our reach extends through our four branches, a wide network of ATMs, our user-friendly online platform (nbdominica.com), and convenient mobile banking services.
At NBD, our strength lies in our team of dedicated employees, numbering 178 strong, each committed to delivering top-notch service and expertise to our valued customers. We are proud to lead in every core business sector among banks in our local market.
NBD’s dedication to being a responsible corporate citizen has not gone unnoticed. We have earned accolades from our regulator, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), for our exemplary commitment to supporting communities and driving economic and social progress throughout Dominica. We are not just a bank; we are a catalyst for positive change and prosperity.
As we look ahead, we remain steadfast in our mission to facilitate success, foster prosperity, and continue our legacy of excellence in banking.


The Open Society Foundations champions the search for bold, democratic solutions to our urgent, common challenges that advance justice, equity, and human dignity.
We do this by supporting a wide array of independent voices and organizations around the world that provide a creative and dynamic link between the governing and the governed.
Our approach seeks to counter the narrow pursuit of political self-interest and short-term opportunism—in pursuit of a sustainable future for people and planet that leaves no one behind.

The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre coordinates the Caribbean region’s response to climate change. Officially opened in August 2005, the Centre is the key node for information on climate change issues and on the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change in the Caribbean.
It is a repository and clearing house for regional climate change information and data and provides climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States through the CARICOM Secretariat. In this role, the Centre is recognised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other international agencies as the focal point for climate change issues in the Caribbean. It has also been recognised by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) as a Centre of Excellence, one of an elite few. This reputation is a major honour for the Centre, and it should be a great source of pride for the people of the Caribbean as well.


Climate change is not happening in isolation, and it does not respect boundaries. To build resilience and adapt to climate impacts, we need to better understand how climate change interacts with issues such as conflict, and how decisions made in one sector or country can have knock-on impacts on others. Located in the Blue Zone at COP29, the Climate, Peace and Transboundary Resilience Pavilion focuses on how to build resilience in a world of complex, interconnected threats. Its focus areas include: scaling up climate finance action for some of the world’s most vulnerable contexts, including fragile and conflict-affected countries and small islands: managing interconnecting threats and transboundary climate risks; and breaking down siloes between countries and across sectors to build meaningful climate resilience.


ODI is an independent, global think tank. We work to inspire people to act on injustice and inequality. Through research, convening and influencing, we generate ideas that matter for people and planet.
We lead thinking and agendas to deliver transformational change and bring about a global sense of resilient, just and equitable prosperity.
We deliver high-quality, internationally recognised research that informs policy design and convenes leadership across the global challenges identified above. We are a free thinking, inclusive and trusted think tank with a global footprint.


Peace Boat US works to build a culture of peace and sustainability around the world by connecting people across borders and creating opportunities for learning, activism and cooperation. We achieve this through programs in which people from the US and around the world participate in voyages onboard the Peace Boat, our Japan-based partner organization and one of the most unique and creative peace-building initiatives in the world.
Programs combine learning, activism, advocacy, and travel, enabling participants to learn first-hand about global issues such as war, environmental degradation, gender violence, and other issues. Participants experience grassroots peace-building efforts to find non-violent, creative, and constructive solutions, from local communities to global advocacy networks.


The Institute of Island Studies is a research, education, and public policy institute based at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The work of the Institute focuses on the culture, environment, and economy of small islands, with an emphasis on Prince Edward Island.
The Island Studies constellation at the University of Prince Edward Island, Canada, consists of the following:
- Institute of Island Studies: a research, education, and public policy institute that focuses on the culture, environment, and economy of small islands
- Master of Arts in Island Studies Program: an interdisciplinary and policy-driven graduate program that critiques islands on their own terms
UNESCO Chair in Island Studies and Sustainability: a research chair currently held by UPEI anthropologist Dr. Jean Mitchell
Island Studies Press: a book publisher whose publications focus on producing Island Studies scholarly material for a popular audience


At COP29, Extreme Hangout is pushing boundaries by creating a dynamic space for youth-led climate action. From November 11th to 22nd in the Green Zone, Extreme Hangout will host workshops and sessions addressing the unique climate challenges of the region, such as water scarcity and renewable energy innovations. The key themes explored include nature and biodiversity, protecting our blue heart, redefining wealth, power to the people, innovative minds, and sustainable futures, moving with purpose, from seed to sustainability, travelling lightly, changing the narrative, and embracing our shared humanity.
By fostering collaboration with new partners and speakers, Extreme Hangout is committed to empowering young changemakers to drive real, lasting solutions and shape the global climate agenda.


We’re an international non-profit founded in 2003, with offices in London, New York, New Delhi, Amsterdam and Beijing.
In that time, we’ve grown our network to include over 500 multinational businesses in 175 markets worldwide.
We also work closely with governments at all levels. The Under2 Coalition, for which we are the Secretariat, is made up of 167 state and regional governments and has been named one of the international cooperative initiatives with the highest potential for emissions reductions.


Blue Planet Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization established in 2020 by visionary entrepreneur and leading climate change advocate Henk Rogers. With support from partner organizations around the globe, the mission of Blue Planet Alliance is to get islands and countries around the world to legislatively mandate a commitment to 100% renewable energy by 2045. It is also working with governments, businesses, and individuals to help grow a global movement aimed at reducing the negative impact on the planet, thus aligning human behavior more in harmony with nature. For more information, visit blueplanetalliance.org/


Cari-Bois is a Caribbean-wide community that brings together communities, academic, scientists, and journalists, to further educate the region about present-day environmental issues which affect the wellbeing of the region’s natural resources and livelihoods.


Climate Tracker (CT) is an international non-profit organization, aiming to support, train and incentivise better climate journalism globally. We believe in the power of journalism, but recognise that many young journalists don’t have the training, resources or support to identify and tell the climate stories they want to. We also recognise that this challenge is often greatest in the countries hardest hit by climate change. Our mission is to support, train and incentivise young journalists in developing countries to tell better climate stories. By 2023, we aim to create a regionally diversified network that provides the best opportunities, training and support for early career climate journalists across Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. To do this, we focus on provide training and fellowships for young journalists around the world to tell better climate stories locally, conduct action-oriented media research to better understand the biggest challenges, trends, and obstacles to powerful climate reporting around the world, fund young journalists to report on the world’s most pressing issues and cover the world’s biggest moments, UN negotiations and conferences, and support global collaborations between young climate journalists, newsrooms and NGOs around the world.


The Accelerator is an entrepreneurial engine that catalyzes and accelerates priority initiatives toward a Climate-Smart Zone, delivering resilience, social development, and broad-based economic growth for the Caribbean.
Our central objective is to help transform the region’s economy by fast-tracking sound public and private investment opportunities that support climate action and economic growth through sustainable development.
Drawing on the deep experience of our nations and institutions, a group of twenty-seven visionary Caribbean Governments, alongside some of the largest global companies, financial institutions, and foundations have joined The Accelerator to make the Caribbean a beacon of climate-smart development.
Register for Island Voices @ COP29
Keep following our daily bulletins for insights and decisions made during the conference
#IslandVoicesCOP29 #IslandInnovation