Launch of the Local2030 Islands Network
Led by islands for islands, the Local2030 Islands Network was launched as part of a Global Island Partnership (GLISPA) event at U.N. Headquarters in New York City during 74th Session of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA 74) on the day of the High Level Review of the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway on September 27, 2019.
Islands on the Forefront of Climate Change
Local2030 Islands Network launch to accelerate action on U.N. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the SAMOA Pathway. Led by islands for islands, the Local2030 Islands Network will serve as the platform to recognize and accelerate island-led SDG implementation as part of the U.N. Local2030 Initiative.
Localizing SDG Implementation in Islands, SDG Action Zone during the High-Level Week
Islands are on the frontlines of climate change, yet islands are laboratories for innovation and action. This event offered the opportunity to profile island leadership – amplifying island voices and catalyzing partnerships that support SAMOA Pathway implementation.
Local2030 Islands Network Launch Participants
H.E. Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations: "In the UN call for a Decade of Action—local action will be key for the world to deliver the SDGs by 2030. The Local2030 Islands Network is answering the call to provide leadership, practical solutions and a strong voice for ambition toward locally-driven sustainable development for implementation of the Samoa Pathway."
H.E. Michael D. Higgins, President, Ireland: “Island communities grasp the interdependence of the three dimensions of sustainable development: environmental, societal and economic. It is reflected in our culture and how we see the world. We understand how our experience as islanders defines us, not just in our physical geography, but in the geography of our minds, our communities, our societies, our political outlooks, of how we see and relate to the world beyond our coastal horizons.”
Hon. Joshua Tenorio, Lt. Governor, Guam: "Fortified by the Local2030 Islands Network, Guam will accelerate our implementation of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in ways that are locally and culturally relevant to our people.”
Amb. Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, UN Foundation: “Local innovation can spur global change. The island nations that face the gravest threats from climate change are true leaders in pioneering solutions to protect people and planet. The Local2030 Islands Network, which the UN Foundation is proud to support, is an inspiring and critical initiative to deepen and connect local island solutions that can yield a better world for all.”
H.E. Eugene Rhuggenaath, Prime Minister of Curaçao : “Our commitment is aimed at further catalyzing local action in Curaçao towards achieving the SDGs and to share best practices regarding our initiatives and commitments with other islands in order to mobilize more regional and global collaboration to advance the SDGs."
Celeste Connors, Executive Director, Hawaii Green Growth: “Islands can help scale solutions and inspire regional and global action. We're delighted to be a Partner to the Local2030 Islands Network to promote locally-driven solutions that achieve real results, integrate climate and sustainability priorities, and bring an island worldview to the 2030 agenda."
H.E. President Danny Faure, Republic of Seychelles: "I believe that from small islands come great ideas. Against the backdrop of the midterm review of the SAMOA Pathway, the Local2030 Islands Network can accelerate action for islands, led by islands — and scale successful models to build a more sustainable future for all people on Island Earth.”
Hon. Simon Stiell, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Grenada: “Action on the local level is indeed necessary to address the global climate problem, a barometer of success for SDG implementation and will energize the multilateral process.”
Kate Brown, Executive Director, Global Island Partnership: "The Local2030 Islands Network is a platform with two critical purposes: it supports islands in advancing their solutions to implement the SDGs, and enables them to work together with other partners to accelerate action. It's about the connection to each other and the connection to the global agenda."
Early Achievements
The Local2030 Islands Network values connected relationships and concrete action. Since its launch during the U.N. General Assembly in September 2019, the Network has achieved significant early milestones toward its ambitious 2025 Strategy. Early Network achievements include:
Recruited 13 island economies into the Network, representing a diverse range of geographical regions and political jurisdictions.
Created the Local2030 Islands Network Virtual COVID Platform to share and support solutions to the immediate and urgent challenges posed to island communities by the COVID-19 response.
Hosted eight webinars on building back better post COVID-19, including strengthening island resilience, food security, nature-based solutions, and amplifying island and indigenous youth voices.
Shared 125+ bright spots with over 2,000 participants from 60+ different countries.
Received high-profile support and endorsements from the UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed and Former US President Barack Obama.
Assisted with the launch and strengthening of two Green Growth Initiatives in Guam and Hawai’i. Green Growth Initiatives can be a useful template for implementing Principle 2 by Network members.
Launched two Communities of Practice (CoPs) to address island priorities:
Clean Energy and Resilience CoP supports resilience and clean energy systems deployment in islands. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will support this island-led CoP and collaborate with members to implement priority initiatives.
Data and Dashboards to Support Resilience Community of Practice builds capacity for islands through data and decision support tools in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Local2030 Hub, Esri, and U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Secured critical seed funding from Ireland, Global Island Partnership members and the Hawaiʻi Local2030 Hub to initiate early Local2030 Island Network activities.
Secured $9 million in financial support from the United States as part of the President’s Emergency Plan for Adaptation and Resilience (PREPARE) to build capacity for islands to measure and advance progress on local climate goals.