Greening the Islands (GTI) Foundation actively participated in the 2024 UN Climate Conference, COP29, spotlighting progress on 100% renewable islands and the importance of early-stage financing for their decarbonisation strategies. Among several other engagements, GTI Foundation organised three side events in the Blue zone.
The event “100% RES Islands in the Mediterranean: championing climate diplomacy towards 1 TW RES by 2030”, co-organised with the Greek Ministry of Environment Energy and Climate Change (YPEKA) and the European Public Law Organization (EPLO), took place at the Greek Pavilion on November 16.
The event focused on the role of islands in driving higher ambition in the Mediterranean towards 1TW RES capacity by 2030, a vision championed by the TeraMED initiative, of which GTI Foundation is a proud partner. As part of the Mediterranean Dialogue on Sustainable Energy and Climate (MEDSEC), Greening the Islands has also contributed to the development of the TeraMED call to action that advances specific asks to Mediterranean Governments to reach the 1TW common goal, endorsed by IRENA, Global Renewables Alliance, and Union for the Mediterranean.
During the event, the Greek island of Chios was announced as the first Mediterranean island to join the 100% RES Islands Initiative, which is demonstrating through case studies worldwide the technical and economic feasibility of fully renewable energy systems on islands, revealing untapped market potential. The roadmap to 100% renewables for Chios will be developed in cooperation with the local technical partner DAFNI, which has facilitated Chios’ onboarding.
Mediterranean islands, positioned as cultural and energy exchange hubs, as well as laboratories for technological and digital innovation, new financial models, community engagement, social acceptance, biodiversity, and nexus, were proposed as pivotal players in fostering climate diplomacy and advancing a just energy transition for the region.
The event was enriched with the participation of esteemed speakers and guests: George Kremlis – Director Circular Economy and Climate Institute, European Public Law Organisation; Dimitris Kollias – Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Environment and Energy, Greece; Francesco Corvaro – Special Envoy for Climate Change, Italy; Jauad El Kharraz – Co-Chair Teramed Initiative; Grammenos Mastrojeni – Senior Deputy Secretary General, Union for the Mediterranean.
We thank our sponsors: Gewiss, Blue Planet Alliance, Bluenova, BSW German Solar Association, and ReAir.
