Join the second cohort of the Sustainable Islands Course to design, finance, and lead inclusive energy transitions for islands.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are reframing their global identity from vulnerable small territories to Large Ocean States controlling nearly 30% of all oceans and seas through Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) extending 200 nautical miles from their coastlines. While Pacific Island leaders began formally articulating this shift in the early 2010s, the framework has since become central to how island nations position themselves in climate negotiations, development partnerships, and blue economy initiatives. Ten Pacific SIDS, for instance, occupy just 23,938 square miles of land (roughly the size of Florida), yet their combined EEZs exceed 15.4 million square miles, larger than the continent of Africa. This demonstrates how the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) fundamentally transformed island sovereignty.

However, the promise of the blue economy faces significant obstacles: illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing; inadequate surveillance capacity; and what scholars call a lack of “positive sovereignty” – the ability to fully exercise jurisdictional rights over vast marine territories. What’s needed is technical and legal assistance, streamlined frameworks for debt-for-nature swaps, sustainable investment guidelines, andcollaborativepartnerships to translate ocean jurisdiction rights into tangible development outcomes and long-term sustainability.

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Opportunities & Events

Geothermal Energy Forum at the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026

The Geothermal Energy Forumreturns as a full-day parallel event at the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026 in Gran Canaria, where theory meets practice as the island prepares to drill its first exploration well. Summit participants get access to the forum at no additional cost, along with global case studies, financing strategies, and on-site field visits that turn geothermal potential into operational reality.

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Full Scholarships for Sustainable Islands Course: Energy Transitions for Island Resilience

We offer a limited number of course scholarships for island-based early-to-mid career professionals to design renewable energy projects, strengthen grid resilience, and lead inclusive transitions away from imported fossil fuels. The 8-week online programme comes with expert-led training, peer learning, and hands-on exercises. Scholarship applications close 3 February 2026.

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Now Hiring: Project Managers at Island Innovation

Island Innovation is hiring remote Project Managers to provide short- and long-term support for active projects. Ideal candidates bring a solutions-oriented approach, strong stakeholder communication skills, and the ability to step into established projects with clear documentation and a collaborative spirit. Applications close 27 January 2026. For upcoming job openings, subscribe to our waitlist. 

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This week’s highlights

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Island Voices Corner

What perspectives do mainstream media tend to miss? Island Voices Corner amplifies essential insights from island leaders and advocates.

This week: Tuvaluan Minister for Home Affairs, Climate Change & Environment Maina Vakafua Talia on why the term “climate migrants” erases sovereignty and reinforces colonial narratives.

More island stories

Swiss court admits Indonesian islanders climate case against Holcim
Polar bears are ‘rewriting their DNA’ to survive warming Arctic, study suggests
Island Games boosted Orkney’s economy by £4m
Samoa faces double-edged labour mobility sword
The Indian Ocean disaster is a climate tragedy — and needs more attention