Smart Islands Projects & Strategies

The 1st Smart Islands Forum was organized at the initiative of the DAFNI Network of Sustainable Aegean and Ionian Islands and the Aegean Energy Agency on 21-22 June 2016 in Athens, Greece with the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), the Central Union of Municipalities of Greece and the Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy – Europe Office. The report presents the profiles of the majority of European islands involved in climate responsible and innovative projects, providing also an overview of the technologies deployed. The projects adopt an integrated approach to the management of natural resources and infrastructures at the island level through the right matching of technology, governance and financing scheme. Most of the projects fall within a broader island strategy – or vision in the absence of such strategy – of how each island can transition into a low-carbon, sustainable and inclusive development paradigm.

The Smart Islands initiative suggests a new narrative for islands that calls for an integrated approach to the management of islands’ natural resources and infrastructures; one that taps into European islands’ potential to transform themselves into smart territories and improve the quality of life of island communities, all while helping the EU meet the goals it has set in a number of policy areas, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, circular economy, innovation, sustainable transport and mobility, blue growth, and the digital agenda.