Islands Resilient by Necessity

Islands face distinct challenges in today’s world. Geographic isolation, limited infrastructure, and smaller economies often mean reduced access to resources, technology, and opportunities that mainland communities take for granted. Yet these very constraints have driven island communities to develop remarkable resilience and innovative solutions, particularly in sustainability.

For centuries, islanders have relied on the land and sea, building thriving communities in remote and often harsh environments with only the resources at hand. This necessity has fostered a deep understanding of resource management and sustainability— skills that mainland communities, with greater access to external support, have rarely needed to develop.

The climate crisis that defines this modern era presents yet another challenge— an existential one, but the solutions being offered are not fit for purpose.

“The climate solutions designed for island nations are often developed in wealthier countries where resources are abundant, regulations are strictly enforced, and the environment is stable and predictable,” Ellsmoor explains. “These approaches rarely reflect the realities of island communities or the innovation needed to address their unique challenges.”

Many island communities already have the knowledge to sustain themselves— they’ve been doing it for generations.

“What they need most is adequate funding to scale local projects and efficient knowledge-sharing of successful models from similar environments,” he nods with a half-smile. “Island solutions, created by islanders, for islanders. You don’t have to look far to find examples of homegrown expertise solving local challenges.”

Take agriculture and fisheries, for instance— sectors that are pioneering new approaches to food security in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.

Islands Rethink Conservation and Food Security

For island nations— often called “big-ocean states” due to their expansive maritime territories and comparatively small land and resources— environmental stewardship must be balanced with the need for viable industries, food security, and economic resilience.

So when Palau’s Prime Minister, Surangel Whipps Jr. announced that the country would reduce their marine sanctuary target from 80% to 30%, a global outcry denounced the move as a step backwards for international conservation.

On paper, this decision made little sense, but as Whipps pointed out, “[The original target] wasn’t based on science, it wasn’t based on any data, it was just that we felt good about it. So we set it at 80%. People are stuck on percentages when really what… everybody should be working toward is 100% managed, that’s what we should be working toward.”

Palau’s previous policy, though well-intentioned, had unintended economic consequences. According to the Whipps administration, the exclusion of commercial fishing from 80% of its waters strained the country’s fisheries sector, weakened food security, and impacted revenues. Enforcing protection over an area roughly the size of Spain proved logistically impossible. By scaling back to a more manageable target and partnering with The Nature Conservancy to modernize its fisheries industry, Palau is betting on a more sustainable long-term approach— one that balances conservation with economic reality.

Palau’s re-calibration reflects a broader trend among island nations: pragmatism over idealism. In the Caribbean, a similar shift is taking place in agriculture, where hydroponic farming is gaining traction as a scalable solution to climate-related food insecurity. A pilot program in Anguilla, Barbados, and the Cayman Islands is demonstrating how controlled-environment agriculture can mitigate extreme heat and unpredictable weather.

According to Fork Farms, the Flex Farms hydroponic technology offers unrivaled efficiency, scalability, and transformation. Outside of its ability to yield more than 25 pounds of fresh leafy greens within a short 28-day time frame, the setup has been optimized to recycle as much water, soil and fertilizer as possible while being incredibly energy and space-efficient. These properties make the technology perfectly suited for deployment on islands where energy, water, and space constraints are a real issue.

Beyond increasing local food production, hydroponic systems create skilled jobs, strengthen supply chains, and reduce reliance on costly food imports. For island nations that import up to 80% of their food, solutions like these provide an opportunity to build a more self-sufficient and resilient agricultural sector.

Protecting biodiversity is just as critical to food security as expanding food production. The Pacific Community (SPC)’s Centre for Pacific Crops and Trees (CePaCT), a regional seed bank based in Suva, Fiji, is working to preserve the genetic diversity of staple crops to help island nations adapt to climate change.

CePaCT’s collection of over 2,200 crop varieties acts as an insurance policy against food insecurity, with seedlings routinely sent to neighboring islands to bolster resilience against extreme weather and disease outbreaks. Without active protection,” these unique genetic resources that we depend on for our food needs […] will disappear forever,” warns Logotonu Meleisea Waqainabete, Programme Leader for Genetic Resources at SPC.

Crossbreeding programs at CePaCT have already yielded hardier, climate-resilient crop varieties suited to island environments— an effort that earned the program an Island Innovation Award.

Despite progress, island nations still face a major hurdle—knowledge-sharing. While Caribbean and Pacific initiatives are making waves, scalable solutions remain scattered across regions.

A more structured network connecting island nations could accelerate sustainability efforts, reduce redundancy, and improve resilience. With climate change intensifying economic and environmental pressures, islands that adapt pragmatically— prioritizing both conservation and economic stability— will be best positioned for the future.

Building Virtual Bridges Across Islands

“By creating digital bridges— virtual spaces and online events for stakeholders to share expertise on island issues—the potential for breakthroughs, innovation, and impactful partnerships grows exponentially,” Ellsmoor explains. “Island Innovation’s communications network and open-access virtual events have been doing this long before the COVID-era shift to online platforms.”

What began in 2018 as a newsletter for sustainability practitioners on islands has grown into a knowledge network and global consultancy working with governments and intergovernmental agencies to build capacity and drive sustainable solutions. At its core, Island Innovation addresses a critical gap: the lack of opportunities for island leaders to collaborate across geographic boundaries.

Its flagship Virtual Island Summit (VIS) exemplifies this approach. The inaugural event drew 3,000 participants; today, it attracts over 10,000 annual registrations, featuring heads of state, government officials, and island experts worldwide. In her 2022 VIS opening speech, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley underscored its significance: “The ability for leaders and experts of island nations to come together on the basis of our shared experiences during this climate crisis is of great importance not just to us who live in island nations, but indeed to the entire world.”

Beyond fostering dialogue, Island Innovation amplifies underrepresented voices and expands access to climate adaptation and sustainable development discussions. “Many take for granted the tools and opportunities for engagement that are not readily available everywhere,” says Ellsmoor. “Spaces like COP are often the only times island leaders and remote communities can connect in person. A virtual platform helps level the playing field, making these conversations more inclusive.”

Island Innovation also provides strategic expertise, including media outreach for the High Ambition Coalition’s regional 30×30 campaign, communications strategy support for UNDP Pacific’s renewable energy initiatives, and pathways for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) researchers and climate activists to engage in global forums.

Islands Coming Together To Drive Global Change

In response to audience demand, Island Innovation now holds an annual in-person conference covering key sustainability challenges and solutions on islands. Co-hosted and organized alongside local governments, the conference is held in a different island region each year. This year’s edition is being held in St. Kitts and Nevis following successful iterations in Prince Edward Island (Canada), and Madeira (Portugal).

In just a few years, Island Innovation has evolved from a digital content aggregator to a driving force in island resilience efforts. What began as a solo venture is now a full-fledged organization with 18 staff members— most from islands and all working remotely using the same digital tools the organization promotes.

“Our team isn’t just working on island issues— we live them,” says Ellsmoor. “That perspective is what makes Island Innovation so effective: island solutions for islanders, by islanders.”

The world’s islands hold a wealth of knowledge and innovation— from Palau’s fisheries transformation to the Caribbean’s hydroponic expansion and CePaCT’s agricultural future-proofing. But in the face of escalating climate risks, their resilience is being tested like never before. To safeguard their future, island nations must do more than implement solutions— they must share them. By strengthening connections and pooling expertise, they can maximize limited resources, scale impact, and shape a more sustainable future.