Sint Eustatius has its first female island governor
The Dutch Caribbean island of St Eustatius, commonly known as Statia, has appointed its first-ever female island governor. Alida Francis, who up until her swearing-in was the government commissioner, took the oath of office at a ceremony, attended by family, friends, the former island governor, Gerald Berkel, the acting Kingdom representative, Jan Helmond, legislators, and other dignitaries.
Faced with an extreme future, one Colombian island struggles to rebuild
In 2020, Hurricane Iota destroyed most of the housing and infrastructure on the Island of Providencia, in Colombia’s Caribbean archipelago of San Andres. Although the government sent aid and rebuilt homes, communities complained they were left out of the consultation process and that the reconstruction had been poorly done, without addressing the island’s increased vulnerability to climate change. Locals sued the government, obtaining a reopening of consultations.
Whales have been given legal 'personhood' by Māori and Pacific leaders
Whales have been recognised as legal persons by traditional leaders of the Pacific after a landmark treaty was signed last month. The treaty, or He Whakaputanga Moana, was signed in a ceremony attended by Tūheitia Potatau te Wherowhero VII – the Māori King, Tou Travel Ariki – the Kaumaiti Nui (president) of House of Ariki, along with elders from Tonga, Tahiti, Hawai’i and Rapanui. But what is the significance of such a treaty?
Indigenous people in Philippines's north 'ready to fight'
The northernmost inhabited island of Itbayat (Philippines) is facing a threat as it finds itself directly in the eye of any potential conflict between China and Taiwan, the island democracy Beijing claims as its own.
Itbayat also sits right next to China’s nine-dash line, which Beijing uses to justify its claim to almost the entire South China Sea.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) find themselves confronted with multiple crises including climate change, the continued socio-economic recovery from COVID-19, as well as limited financial resources to adequately adapt or mitigate these issues while also developing sustainably. Therefore, it is imperative that SIDS identify and implement pathways to meet the sustainable development goals by leveraging their shared knowledge and partnering towards a strong, resilient future.
Next month, Antigua and Barbuda will host the SIDS4 Conference, where the international community will review SIDS’ current sustainable development progress and propose a new decade of goals that will ensure long-term prosperity and security. You have already registered to receive updates!
Island Innovation is proud to be a leading source of information and engagement at SIDS4. Our team will be on the ground, actively participating in the conference to provide firsthand insights, news, and outcomes. Here’s how we’ll keep you informed:
Daily Updates & Analysis: Receive exclusive reports and breakdowns of the conference’s progress.
Side Events: Partnering with other organizations, we’ll host discussions on critical SIDS issues, giving a platform to diverse voices.
Global Network: We’ll share information with stakeholders worldwide, promoting informed action towards sustainable development in SIDS.