RMI at the Global Sustainable Islands Summit

RMI is proud to participate in the Global Sustainable Islands Summit 2026, joining island leaders, utilities, funders, and partners from around the world to accelerate resilient solutions across island contexts.

At the summit, we are convening our own side event to spotlight how island energy ambitions can move from concepts to implementation. RMI experts will also contribute to conversations focused on grid resilience, capital mobilization, and integrating renewable resources at sessions throughout the conference.

Official Side Event — Global Islands in Action: Powering Resilient Island Economies Through Clean Energy 

Wednesday, April 22
10:00-11:00 CEST

Registration for the Global Sustainable Islands Summit is required to attend this event. Please secure your tickets here before registering for RMI’s official side event.

Island nations are on the frontlines of climate change and energy insecurity, yet they are also global leaders in reimagining what resilient, affordable, and sustainable energy systems can look like. For many islands, the energy transition is not only about reducing emissions or deploying renewable power. It is about strengthening economic resilience, improving energy security, protecting communities from climate shocks, and creating new opportunities for locally driven development. 

Despite ambitious targets and strong political leadership, many island energy initiatives struggle to move from concept to implementation. This challenge rarely reflects a lack of vision or commitment. Instead, it stems from the complexity of aligning system planning, resilient infrastructure design, institutional and regulatory frameworks, project preparation, and investment in small and climate vulnerable markets. 

This session launches RMI’s Global Islands Program approach by convening island leaders, partners, and funders around a shared understanding of how island energy transitions move from ambition to delivery. Bringing together perspectives from the Caribbean, Pacific, and African Small Island Developing States, the discussion will highlight islands that are successfully breaking this cycle and translating clean energy goals into investable, resilient outcomes through a common pathway from ambition to impact. 

Through concrete island examples, panelists will explore how integrated system planning, resilient infrastructure design, institutional strengthening, and project preparation, supported by catalytic finance, work together to deliver reliable, affordable, and climate resilient energy systems. The conversation will surface practical lessons on building bankable pipelines, mobilizing capital, and strengthening local capacity to support long term economic resilience. 

RMI will serve as facilitator and moderator, elevating island and partner perspectives while drawing on its Global Islands Program’s cross regional experience to support a forward-looking conversation and highlighting islands that are successfully breaking this cycle translating clean energy goals into resilient, bankable outcomes.

Also: RMI in the Main Program of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit

Tuesday, April 21

Resilient Island Grids: Storage, Stability & High Renewable Futures
09:45 am CEST

RMI’s David Gumbs will join fellow experts to explore how islands can maintain grid reliability as renewables continue to expand. The discussion will highlight innovative approaches such as flexible grid operations, and integrated transmission and distribution planning.

Mobilizing Capital for Island Transitions
11:00 am CEST

RMI’s Ije Okeke will speak alongside international institutions, financiers, and island networks on strategies to unlock investment for clean energy and climate projects. The session will examine how global funds, philanthropic capital, and blended finance approaches can help mobilize resources in smaller island contexts while leveraging regional expertise for scalable impact.

Wednesday, April 22

From Exploration to Baseload: Integrating Geothermal into Island Energy Systems
1:45 pm CEST

RMI’s Skylar Bee will moderate a discussion on moving geothermal projects from exploration into operational energy systems. Panelists will share technical and strategic insights on integrating geothermal as a baseload resource, strengthening grid stability, and complementing other renewable sources within island energy systems.