DRAFT AGENDA

The GTI eConvention is the global event dedicated to the self-sufficiency and sustainability of islands worldwide. For 8 editions, it has confirmed as an opportunity for islands stakeholders such as governments, utilities, innovative solution providers, academia and others to connect and share their experiences through a digital platform, match island needs and sustainable solutions, and face common challenges building consortia for national, regional and international tenders.
Last year’s edition drew on the lessons learned by the GTI Observatory and, in particular, on how global policy and finance need to sit at the same table with sustainable technology and with joint efforts become drivers for islands’ sustainable growth and unlock their potential as laboratories for innovation. In the opening of the new edition of the GTI eConvention, the GTI Observatory will present its first Report, culmination of its work across the sectors of the island circular economy.
Most technological solutions are replicable in many islands worldwide, while policy frameworks and financing mechanisms are often specific to regions. Thus, as a new feature, the 9th edition will have a regional focus to analyse the main challenges in 4 macro areas with the involvement of local partners.
The 4 regional workshops will be: renewables and regulatory frameworks in the EU and Atlantic Ocean, water cycle in the Caribbean, sustainable tourism in the Indian Ocean, and decarbonization in the Asia-Pacific region.
The conclusions and the potential solutions identified during the event, will concur to inform the final position paper produced by GTI to bring a stronger islands’ voice at COP27 raising attention around the most relevant themes.
As usual, the GTI Awards – now in the 8th edition – will close the event, recognizing the three best projects for islands’ integrated sustainability.

Decarbonization is key to limit the worst effects of climate change, which hits islands harder, but it’s not only an environmental matter. It is about financials and security. In most cases, islands have to import diesel to run their power generators, incurring very high costs and exposing to supply risk. Renewables are already much cheaper compared to diesel and they can produce power directly on the island. Thus, not only renewables allow islands to save huge financial resources, but can also help them achieve energy security while decarbonizing and create significant synergies among sectors. However, deploying the most efficient technologies in the various sectors of the islands’ economy requires appropriate regulatory frameworks that enable their use. Today, regulations for energy supply on islands are obsolete and biased in favour of fossil fuels.
Utility companies are generally compensated for the additional costs they have to incur to supply electricity to the islanders, in order for them to pay the same price as the inhabitants of the mainland. In the EU, these additional costs are paid by all citizens of a country through a component in the bill. For example, Italy spends around 60 million euros a year for this compensation for its smaller non-interconnected islands with 200,000 inhabitants. Spain spends around 1 billion euros for the Balearic and the Canary Islands, and Greece even more. This compensation does not motivate utilities to endorse the transition, but on the contrary, it incentivizes them to continue using diesel.
With the “Minor Islands” Decree, Italy has adopted an innovative instrument to incentivize renewables in non-interconnected islands. The decree in fact provides for remuneration through a feed-in tariff calculated in relation to the cost of fuel that is avoided (including the cost of transport) thanks to renewables. This incentive scheme does not involve additional costs for the government but is funded through the budget already allocated to the supply of diesel that is not used. Every country – developing countries as well – could adopt this mechanism, using the budget saved by reducing the use of diesel. From a political point of view, the measure is particularly interesting as it allows the distribution of the budget – which today is allocated to utilities to cover their higher costs – among individual citizens, allowing them to achieve greater independence with clean energy sources.
In this workshop, the Italian “Minor Islands” Decree will be presented in details alongside other policies to promote renewables on islands from energy authorities of Greece and Spain to explore their potential for replication in all European islands and beyond.