Island Leaders And Partner Organisations Gather In Gran Canaria This Week For The Global Sustainable Islands Summit

20 April 2026; GRAN CANARIA – With attendance approaching 500, participants and speakers have gathered in Gran Canaria for the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS), taking place this week from 20–22 April.

The Summit, hosted by Island Innovation and the Cabildo de Gran Canaria, comes to the region for the first time after previous editions including Saint Kitts & Nevis (Caribbean) and Prince Edward Island (Canada). The Summit convenes ministers, senior policymakers, development finance representatives, and technical experts from island jurisdictions across Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Pacific, and Latin America and will focus on practical approaches for island governments and institutions to strengthen coordination for sustainable economic development.

Speaking on Gran Canaria’s role as host, Raul García Brink, Councillor for Environment, Climate, Energy, and Knowledge of the Cabildo de Gran Canaria said:

“Gran Canaria is proud to host the Global Sustainable Islands Summit and to contribute to strengthening collaboration between island regions worldwide. Islands are uniquely positioned to lead on energy transition, innovation, and climate resilience, and this Summit reinforces our commitment to turning that potential into practical outcomes.”

The GSIS 2026 edition is supported by a broad ecosystem of partners contributing expertise across key areas of island transition, including energy and water systems, circular economy and resource efficiency, tourism and regional development, and education and research. These include Turismo de Gran Canaria, Sociedad de Promoción Económica de Gran Canaria (SPEGC), Energía Solar Canarias, Indoor Vertical.Farm, Canaragua, PreZero, Jointhepipe, EWaste and the Edge Foundation.

Commenting on the Summit, James Ellsmoor, CEO of Island Innovation, said:

“The Global Sustainable Islands Summit has become an important convening point for island governments, institutions, and delivery partners working on shared sustainability challenges. It provides a space where policy, finance, and practical implementation can come together, and where island-led solutions can be developed and scaled in a coordinated way.”

Government and Institutional Participation

The Summit will also serve as the platform for the official launch of the Virgin Islands Climate Change Trust Fund (VICCTF). During a dedicated session on Tuesday 21 April, Deputy Premier and Minister for Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change, Hon. Julian Fraser, RA, will formally launch the Fund.

This marks a significant milestone as the Fund enters its operational phase, with over US$5.5 million secured and ready to begin financing climate resilience projects across the Territory. The Fund has been established to address the persistent barriers that Overseas Territories face in accessing international climate finance, offering a practical, locally governed mechanism to mobilise and deploy funding where it is most needed.

Geothermal Energy in Focus

GSIS will once again feature the Geothermal Energy Forum, supported by partners including the International Geothermal Association, providing a reference point for discussions on system design, financing models, and delivery challenges associated with baseload renewable energy in island contexts.

The forum will include participation from a high-level Caribbean delegation engaged under the European Union’s Global Gateway initiative, bringing together ministers, utility leaders, and regional institutions to advance cooperation on geothermal development, investment alignment, and energy system integration in island contexts.

Following a surface exploration campaign, the Gran Canaria Geotermia consortium, working with Spain’s national energy programme (IDAE) and technical partner JRG Energy (New Zealand) will begin exploratory drilling at approximately 2,700 metres in late 2026 to assess the viability of geothermal resources for energy generation.

Blue Innovation and Emerging Solutions

A key moment of the Summit will be the Blue-Tech Innovation Showcase, highlighting technologies and projects already in deployment or approaching scale across island contexts.

The Showcase will feature emerging innovation pipelines from the Mediterranean, including the EU-funded MED-Hubs Acceleration Programme, which supports startups working in marine renewable energy, sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, smart ports, and green maritime transport. The Med-Hubs include MALTAccelerate, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Venice Lagoon Plastic Free, ALDA - European Association for Local Democracy, and Justonearth.

About GSIS

The Global Sustainable Islands Summit is an international platform designed to strengthen coordination between island governments, institutions, and implementation partners. It focuses on supporting the translation of policy priorities into deliverable projects by aligning expertise, finance, and governance systems across sectors and regions.

About Island Innovation

Island Innovation is a global platform that enables coordination, decision-making and implementation pathways across island governments, institutions and partners. Recognising that authority, finance and expertise are often fragmented across systems, Island Innovation works to align actors and accelerate practical progress through high-level convenings, strategic communications and capacity-building initiatives.

More information: www.gsis.islandinnovation.co

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