At the UN Biodiversity Conference in Colombia, GLISPA has been at the forefront of highlighting island issues, hosting impactful sessions and building connections with partners, members and stakeholders. A major focus at COP16 has been the launch of our Conservation Trust Fund Community of Practice for Small Island Developing States (SIDS-CTF CoP) – a dedicated platform for sustainable funding, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.  

At the 4th UN International Conference for Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), in Antigua and Barbuda, GLISPA organised a high-level reception to commemorate enduring island initiatives we helped to catalyse as well as celebrate the launch of our new strategy.

Date: 15 November 2023
Location: Virtual
Host: GLISPA

In this video, members and supporters of the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) connected to share strategies, and learn how we can work together to make a difference for islands at COP28. Our speakers include island advocates such as Grenada's Ambassador Spencer Thomas; Secretariat of the Pacific Community's Coral Pasisi; WWF's Jone Raqauqau; Ignace Beguin for the Marrakesh Partnership for Global Climate Action/Climate Champions/COP 28 Presidency; James Ellsmoor from Island Innovation; Emily Goodwin from Rare; Hailey Campbell from the youth coalition Care About Climate; and Diego Tabilo from Ocean Risk Resilience Action Alliance.

Date: 28 March 2023
Location: Virtual
Host: GLISPA, Blue Nature Alliance, The Nature Conservancy, Rare, SeyCCAT

A critical analysis of the outcomes of the recent COPs on Climate and Biodiversity held late last year in Sharm-El-Shiekh and Montreal respectively. Featuring expert testimonies from influential island delegates who were on the ground for both these events. Next we examined some of the ways islands are rising to these challenges and implementing real solutions. Featuring presentations on Debt Swaps, Eco-based Adaptation, and establishing durable Marine Protected Areas, courtesy of some of the member organisations within our network.

Date: 7 February 2023
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Host: IMPAC5

This session brought together a diverse set of partnerships and networks related to protected ocean spaces at national and global levels. We engage with MPAs to highlight their priorities of work, experiences and lessons that can inform this effort of building a global network in the protected ocean space and exploring what might be some of the challenges and opportunities. This was an official Knowledge Sharing Session of IMPAC5 2023.

Date: 5 February 2023
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Host: IMPAC5

As we struggle to achieve the global target of at least 30% protection levels by 2030 both within EEZs and on the High Seas we know that we need to have a bold vision backed with a series of effective and resourceful partnerships with and between states, organisations, and local people. This session shows that there are countries and organisations that are working in alliances, networks and partnerships at different levels who have developed a body of knowledge on how to pull together diverse stakeholders in a larger network - like a protected ocean space global network - and leverage efforts.

Date: 11 November 2022
Location: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Host: Oceanic Global

GLISPA Executive Director, Kate Brown, moderates this dynamic discussion on the role of multi-stakeholder action at the local level joined by: Mayor Mary Jean Te (Mayor, Municipality of Libertad, Antique, Philippines), David Obura (Director, CORDIO East Africa), Sefanaia Nawadra (Director General of SPREP), and Daniel Lin (Pasifika Storytelling Lead, Nia Tero).

The Oceanic x Climate Summit was a daylong event hosted by Oceanic Global that took place at COP27. The summit immersed global stakeholders in the importance and potential of the ocean within the climate change narrative and supported multi-stakeholder action for the ocean and all it sustains.

Date: 12 November 2022
Location: Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
Host: Global Island Partnership, GEF Small Grants Programme UNDP, Rare, Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), Micronesia Conservation Trust (MCT), Smithsonian Institute, SMILO

In our final Bright Spots episode for 2022, we talk about climate adaptation and hear stories from organizations such as the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, the GEF Small Grants Programme in Mauritius, and the International Student Environmental Coalition.

Date: 25 October 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: Global Island Partnership, GEF-SGP

In April 2022 GLISPA launched its inaugural Bright Spots Fellowship to further showcase inspired, home-grown island solutions. This initiative brought together 10 community champions, created a platform to share their stories, and provided the opportunity to communicate with influential policy makers to discuss how their interventions can be implemented globally. We are honoured to present to you our 2022 Fellows from Malta, the Solomon Islands, Mauritius, Brazil, and the Palmyra Atoll. Hear their stories, in their own words.

Date: 28 July 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: Global Island Partnership

The GLISPA Community Call is an open forum designed to allow GLISPA members to inspire and support each other to take action and produce results for island communities.

Highlights on this call include introductions to our new Board Members (7:40), meeting some of our amazing GLISPA Fellows Class of 2022! (38:06) and presentations from our members Island Conservation (1:01) and the Climate Strong Island Network (1:07). 

Date: 21 July 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: Global Island Partnership, Conservatoire du littoral, GEF-SGP, Island Coast Ocean Solutions, Celebrate Islands

Episode IV puts the spotlight on "Sustainable Practices" as we highlight amazing island initiatives to reduce the harmful negative impacts of various economic sectors, particularly tourism, in islands off Europe, Indonesia and in the Pacific.

Date: 18 May 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: SMILO, Conservatoire du littoral, PIM, Global Island Partnership, GEF-SGP

As part of the 9th edition of "CELEBRATE ISLANDS" 2022, the brainchild of our GLISPA members SMILO, Conservatoire du littoral and PIM; we have partnered with them to celebrate current and future Island Bright Spots around the themes of 1. Preservation of marine ecosystems; 2. Reduction of the impacts of economic activities; and 3. Sustainable management of water resources. 

Islands celebrate each other as some of our 2022 GLISPA Fellows were on hand to announce the CELEBRATE ISLANDS video contest grant awardees.

Date: 1 July 2022
Location: UN Ocean Conference, Altice Arena, Lisbon, Portugal
Host: GLISPA, Blue Nature Alliance, UNDP GEF-SGP, Micronesia Conservation Trust, Big Ocean

Part II of our virtual event held in March that focused on the policymaker perspective, this high-level dialogue held live during the UN Ocean Conference turned to the "Leader perspective", convening current Island Ministers of the Environment to discuss carrying on large scale conservation projects from one government to another. The event facilitated a dialogue around the Governance and transitions of Large-Scale Conservation Projects and highlighted achievements, challenges, and bright spots. This is particularly relevant with some of the island champion countries for marine conservation having undergone recent changes of government leadership. 

Date: 30 March 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: The Nature Conservancy, Global Island Partnership

This webinar provides insight into how Blue Bonds can be used for ocean conservation, with speakers who were at the heart of the effort to secure the world’s biggest debt conversation for marine conservation in Belize.

Date: 9 March 2022
Location: Virtual
Host: Global Island Partnership, UNDP GEF - Small Grants Programme, Blue Nature Alliance, Micronesia Conservation Trust 

Our first GLISPA Bright Spot event for 2022 is a special episode that departs from our usual format. Here, we took a deep dive in examining the challenge of sustaining long-term marine conservation projects through successive election cycles, the implications of governance switch and the perspective of new political leaders on carrying-on these legacies. Our exciting discussion panel cast of politicians and experienced conservation practitioners seek to answer these important questions, through the airing of diverse perspectives in a safe space, as only our Bright Spot episodes can deliver.