• This Thursday 30th and Friday 31st, a panel of experts will discuss best practices and solutions to accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable socio-economic model with an insular focus
  Circular and blue economy; energy, water and mobility; climate change adaptation and biodiversity will be the focus of a program that includes conferences, round tables and workshops
• Net zero emissions, biodiversity protection, waste management, and energy efficiency will be some of the topics that, over two days, will serve international, national, and local experts to discuss and reflect on the transition towards a greener, more profitable, more self-sufficient, and environmentally more sustainable socioeconomic model.

The International Ecoislands Forum returns to Gran Canaria to celebrate its second edition at Infecar this Thursday and Friday, January 30th and 31st, to lead the global debate on sustainability in island environments. The meeting will be structured around keynote speeches, round tables, and thematic workshops focused on key areas such as circular and blue economy, energy, water, mobility, climate change adaptation and biodiversity.

The four plenary conferences will be delivered by Gunter Pauli, father of the ‘Blue Economy’ concept, who will discuss the opportunities presented by this development model; Anjila Hjalsted, a reference in absolute sustainability who will offer keys to achieving it; Liz Bonnin, biologist and environmental communicator recognized for her documentaries, who will focus on the change our planet needs; and Mark Lynas, a journalist specializing in climate change and author of the book ‘Six Degrees’, who will centre his presentation on the challenges faced by islands in an increasingly warmer world.

One of the highlighted activities in the second edition of this biennial event will be the workshops, which will focus on addressing themes practically and collaboratively. Island Innovation, an international networking hub that fosters crucial connections between island communities worldwide, will offer through its founder, James Ellsmoor, and its project director, Grace Henry, a session on global challenges of islands in the blue economy. Meanwhile, Sylvia and Marjolein Boer, experts in accelerating the transition towards a sustainable maritime future and known as Maritime Sisters, will dedicate their workshop ‘Navigating the Future’ to energy, mobility, and water themes.

The program is completed with parallel sessions that will simultaneously focus on analyzing needs and solutions and sharing best practices around fundamental themes for the sustainable development of island territories. During the two days, topics such as water efficiency, decarbonization, or transition to a net-zero emissions model in energy, water, and mobility will be explored in depth; waste management, desalination brine valorization, or the latest highlighted strategies in circular and blue economy; protection of island ecosystems, sustainable visitor management in natural environments, or innovation applied to environmental conservation in biodiversity; or the value of carbon markets or the tipping points that adverse weather phenomena represent in terms of climate change adaptation.

With the intention of serving as an environment for connection between exhibitors, companies, and visitors, the forum also offers the possibility of scheduling B2B meetings to foster relationships, synergies, or professional agreements and alliances for building a greener and more sustainable future.

The complete program and tickets for the International Ecoislands Forum are available on the website www.foro-ecoislas.es. The daily cost is 8 euros (3 euros for students, people with disabilities, retirees, and pensioners), while for both days it has a price of 12 euros (5 euros at a reduced rate). The entrance gives access to the exhibition area, networking activities, or B2B business meetings, except for the workshops, which cost 4 euros per activity.

The event, promoted and funded by the Gran Canaria Council and organized by Infecar, has the sponsorship of Ewaste, Prezero, Ayagaures Medioambiente, Astican and Satocan, with Cajasiete as an official collaborator and other collaborations such as the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, University of La Laguna, Canaragua, the Maritime Cluster of the Canary Islands, the Insular Water Council of Gran Canaria, the Insular Energy Council of Gran Canaria, Fedeport and the Chamber of Commerce of Gran Canaria.