The Sicilian island of Favignana is ready to welcome delegates for the 4th Greening the Islands international conference, including representatives of the European Commission keen to hear from island administrations how to accelerate a more sustainable future.

The event will kick off on 3 November with the second Italian edition of Greening the Islands followed by the international conferences on 4 November.

Energy, water, sustainable mobility, waste, agriculture and tourism are the themes around which the discussion will focus on a new, broader concept of circular economy with islands leading the way. Greening the Islands will address technological innovation with an emphasis on projects that have already been implemented – or are being implemented today – on islands that leverage the nexus between the various sectors of the green economy.

“We are committed to promoting constant, effective exchange between the vast array of different players who can contribute to the sustainable future of our islands. National and international institutions, innovation leaders, investors, the media and local communities all need to have a seat at the table if we are to break ground on innovative, sustainable projects for our islands, as envisaged in the recent Malta agreement between EU states. Greening the Islands has been active on this front for years,” said Gianni Chianetta, director and scientific co-ordinator of Greening the Islands.

To follow up on the EU’s “small islands” summits held this year in Malta and Crete, the European Commission will be on hand to meet representatives of small island administrations – all members of the ANCIM association – to figure out how to lay the foundations for EU policies supporting the development of islands but at the same time protecting them in all their environmental, social and economic fragility.

“EU islands have a significant potential to benefit from the clean energy transition and even become frontrunners in this process. The Commission, with its recently launched Clean Energy for EU Islands Initiative, is committed to facilitate and accelerate the use of wind, sun and ocean energies, as well as innovative smart grids and storage solutions,” said Dominique Ristori, Director – General for Energy at the European Commission.

For more details, see the conference programme.