The local 2030 islands network, the world’s first global island-led network devoted to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through locally and culturally informed decisions, held its first in-person gathering of its Communities of Practice on Data for Climate Resilience and Sustainable and Regenerative Tourism in Honolulu, Hawaii, from April 2nd to 6th, 2023, in collaboration with the Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana’ (PRiMO) Conference.
Representing Seychelles, Mrs Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary for Tourism, attended the sessions, accompanied by climate technician, Mr Egbert Quatre.
The gathering was an excellent opportunity for 30 island states to unite and prioritise the challenges and answers they urgently require. The two Communities of Practice (CoPs), both new and only launched in 2022, brought together first-time leaders, technical partners, network members, practitioners, and subject-matter experts in tourism and climate change in a peer-to-peer forum for knowledge exchange, technical training, and advancing action and collaboration on shared goals.
During the event, Mrs Francis had the chance to discuss diverse success stories from the destination and learn from its counterparts on common difficulties.
Speaking of her mission, Mrs Francis said that the local 2030 network would give Seychelles another platform to echo its challenges vis-a-vis climate action and other UNSDGs.
“The first sustainable tourism CoP was deemed crucial as it was acknowledged that tourism is part of the solution, and the tourism leaders should be engaged in a meaningful way in tackling the islands’ challenges. The term regenerative tourism was largely debated, and it was explained that it is there to give a deprecating and broader context to sustainability. We should not only be safeguarding our islands for tomorrow but, as part of it, actively bringing back to life what we have or are losing. This requires a deeper kind of thinking, making our visitors more responsible.”
The network is committed to improving the lives of island people collectively with its members and partners and sharing island solutions within the world with a vision of a sustainable island earth inspired by island leadership and values.
With its clear and action-oriented mission, the network is anticipated to gather fast momentum over the year and attract more island member states across the globe. Launched in 2019, just before the pandemic, it is expected to play a significant role in amplifying the voices of island states in achieving sustainable goals.
