Redesigning the Future
From left: Reene Smith, Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador; Hon. Minister Kerryne James, Grenada’s Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment, and Renewable Energy, and Blue Planet Alliance Fellow; Emilie McGlone, Director of Peace Boat US; and Shannen Henry, CEO, the Kaylia Group.
Building on the legacy of the 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4), the Sustainable Design Impact Hub, organized by the Council on Sustainable Fashion and Design of Grenada, was held in Grenada this past August as a pivotal event designed to bring together stakeholders and sustainable-development experts. The goal was to explore and unlock the immense potential within the creative economies of SIDS.
The Council on Sustainable Fashion and Design of Grenada (CSFDG) is the social impact arm of the Kaylia Group — a sustainable-fashion ecosystem committed to decarbonizing the global fashion and textile landscape. CSFDG’s mission is to enhance the quality and sustainability of locally made products by providing resources, skills training, and capacity building primarily to Caribbean women-owned small businesses.
One of the event highlights was the SDG Lounge, a space where participants engaged in panel discussions covering a broad spectrum of topics, such as sustainability, architecture, innovation, ocean conservation, agriculture, fashion, wellness, and business development. These discussions aimed to provide insights and foster collaboration to drive sustainable growth, especially for island nations.
Throughout the event, conversations ranged from the importance of indigenous knowledge and cultural preservation to the transition for islands to create a pathway toward renewable energy by the year 2045. These conversations also highlighted how cultural heritage can be integrated into climate-resilience solutions tailored for SIDS, ensuring that development respects and enhances local heritage in the process.
Day two kicked off with an oceans panel, moderated by Shannen Henry, CEO of the Kaylia Group, with Emilie McGlone, Director of Peace Boat US; James Ellsmoor, CEO of Island Innovation; and Christine Finney, owner of Grenada-based Eco Dive. The panel focused on marine conservation and sustainable development in SIDS, aligned with SDG 14, Life Below Water.
On the final evening, Emilie moderated a panel together with the Minister of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy from Grenada, Hon. Kerryne James, and our recent Youth for SDGs scholar and Blue Planet Alliance Global Ambassador, Reene Smith, who is currently working as the Environmental Officer at the Ministry.
The panel discussion was entitled "Re-designing the Future with Renewable Energy, Working Toward a Sustainable Future for All." There was an inspiring beachside chat on creating nature-based solutions for coastal resilience, and showcasing innovative programs for ocean and climate action. This panel discussion highlighted the importance of engaging all stakeholders, from government to civil society and United Nations partners in working together toward a 100% renewable-energy plan for island nations, as well as redesigning our shared future. Peace Boat continues to work toward Ecoship, a decarbonization-transition model for the maritime sector, leading the way for sustainable transport.
During the event, Minister James also expressed her support for the Blue Planet Alliance Fellowship Program, which brings representatives from island nations and territories to Hawaii for a week-long rigorous seminar and workshop designed to help those islands come up with their own plans for a 100% renewable-energy transition. During the program, participants hear from policy experts, utility executives, community organizers, climate-solution advocates, and many more leaders with extensive knowledge of how renewable energy can be a solution. Together with Minister James, Blue Planet Alliance is supporting island leaders to exchange experiences and best practices in this transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future for all. Learn more about the Fellowship Program here.
We look forward to joining again next year with the Council on Sustainable Fashion & Design of Grenada and SDG Lounge!
