This week’s newsletter brings you the latest insights and developments from island communities around the world. Explore key environmental and economic issues, regional perspectives, and the growing efforts to protect local ecosystems & cultures. Stay informed and inspired by stories that highlight resilience, resistance, and innovation across island nations.
Madagascar’s ‘Solar mamas’ are Lighting the Way
In the heart of Madagascar’s Menabe region, a quiet revolution is unfolding. In the village of Ambakivao, 4 women are tackling two of the region’s most pressing challenges: energy access and environmental degradation. Known locally as the “solar grandmothers” are bringing light to their community, one solar lamp at a time, while also protecting Madagascar’s fragile ecosystems.
Echoes of Resistance: Indigenous Survival at the Margins of Climate Crisis
Article by Whitney Mélinard —
In the crucible of global climate chaos, Caribbean Indigenous Peoples stand at the frontlines of survival, their centuries-old ecological wisdom silenced while their ancestral lands and culture teeter on the brink of extinction. Along Dominica’s north-eastern coast, an intricate tapestry of cultural survival is being woven – larouman by larouman (Ischnosiphon arouma), story by story.
From the Edge of Extinction: How St Helena Became a Beacon of Conservation
Article by Adam Ó Ceallaigh —
On the Island of St Helena, the Peaks National Park is home to 250 species that are found nowhere else on earth. The St Helena Cloud Forest Project (SHCFP), launched in 2021, founded to protect and restore the Cloud Forest of St Helena, has made significant progress in restoring the island’s unique habitat, a vital source of water and biodiversity for the territory.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is joining the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2025 as one of our partners and it feels particularly fitting as we announced our partnership, this week, on Earth Day, a global movement dedicated to the urgent protection of our planet.
The OECS is an inter-governmental organisation focused on regional integration in the Eastern Caribbean, comprising 12 member states. These include 7 Protocol Members (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) and 5 Associate Members (Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Saint Martin). OECS’s work in sustainable and renewable energy substantially manifests the urgency and commitment highlighted by Earth Day’s “Our Power, Our Planet” theme.
Their efforts to overcome financial obstacles and build technical expertise are valuable examples of how vulnerable nations can actively contribute to and benefit from the global transition towards a cleaner energy future.
Our partnership provides a powerful platform to showcase the OECS‘s innovative work, inspire other island communities, and collectively accelerate the global shift towards renewable energy
Time is running out to secure your spot at the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2025. As a valued member of our community, we’re offering you a special 20% discount on your summit ticket. Purchase your ticket now and, at checkout, use code:
GSIS2025-COMMS-QJEW4B9P
Copy and paste the code above. Limited validity, secure your spot before May 5th (the code’s expiration)!
The Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2025 Digital Magazine
The GSIS Post-Summit Digital Magazine is a premium publication highlighting key outcomes from the 2025 Summit, co-hosted with the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis. To be released 4 weeks after the event, this digital magazine will share expert insights, innovative solutions, and success stories driving sustainable island development worldwide.
This magazine will:
- Showcase GSIS thought leadership and impact
- Offer high-visibility advertising and sponsorship options
- Support year-round business development and engagement
- Provide a global platform for climate and sustainability solutions
You can also participate in the magazine! For advertisement opportunities, learn more & reach out to [email protected] .
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