Nice, France, 12 June 2025 – The Government of Seychelles and Greening the Islands (GTI) Foundation have announced at the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, a new partnership to accelerate the transition toward 100% renewable energy.
Seychelles and GTI Foundation signed a ground-breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) strengthening cooperation to accelerate and improve the decarbonisation of the island of La Digue, as part of the 100% RES Islands Initiative.
The MoU was signed during the UN Ocean Conference side event “Small Islands: Blue Circular Hubs for a 100% Renewable Future”, co-organised by the Government of Tonga, UN Department of Economic and social Affairs (DESA), and GTI Foundation on June 11.
This landmark agreement underscores the shared commitment of both parties to leverage the transformative potential of renewable energy and circular economy for islands’ sustainable development while originating replicable models.
“This partnership is a bold step toward a cleaner, more resilient future. La Digue will lead the way in showing how small islands can achieve energy independence through innovation and strong collaboration,” said Hon. Flavien Joubert, Minister for Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment of Seychelles.
“We are proud to support the Seychelles along their ambitious decarbonisation and energy transition journey. By combining our technical expertise with Seychelles’ leadership in global climate action, we aim to implement replicable solutions that advance energy independence and sustainability for small islands with La Digue as a model for the entire African region and beyond,” said Gianni Chianetta, Chair of GTI Foundation.
Under the MoU, GTI Foundation will spearhead the identification of concrete projects for the energy transition, working in close collaboration with local stakeholders and offering technical and strategic support to advance project development within a comprehensive roadmap. The Government of Seychelles will foster an enabling policy environment and mobilise the support of key island stakeholders, local authorities, and development partners to realise this ambitious vision.
The signing of this MoU, aligned with the momentum of the UN Ocean Conference, underscores how the 100% RES Islands Initiative can serve as a powerful collaborative framework for islands to lead on sustainable ocean governance and climate action globally.
