The Cabinet of the Special Envoy of the BES-islands

Today, we had the opportunity of presenting our work to the Rotary Club Bonaire, an inspiring organization dedicated to uplifting and assisting the local community through impactful fundraising and initiatives. Our Special Envoy, Edison Rijna, shared the mission and milestones of the Cabinet Special Envoy, including success stories driven by EU funding and UN-backed projects. Highlights included reflections on the Cabinet's recent productive trip to #COP29 and our continued efforts to strengthen capacity across Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba. We explored meaningful opportunities for collaboration with the Rotary Club Bonaire. Their dedication to empowering the people of Bonaire aligns with the Cabinet's vision for growth development, and we look forward to supporting these ambitions. Thank you, Rotary Club Bonaire, for hosting us and for your dedication to making a difference! #CommunityImpact #CapacityBuilding #RotaryInternational

Towards a Sustainable Future for Caribbean Aviation! At the A Flight to the Future conference in St. Maarten, we discussed the future of Caribbean aviation with partners: improved connections, affordable tickets, and sustainable technology. We presented a.o. possible international financing opportunities to make this happen. A key breakthrough was the announcement that airport taxes on Curaçao, St. Maarten, Aruba, and Bonaire will be reduced to USD 15. Airports are also investing in solar energy, and the potential of electric aviation was highlighted. There’s still much to do, but the first steps towards sustainable and accessible aviation have been taken. We remain committed to supporting this progress! #DCCA #SustainableAviation #Caribbean #StrongerTogether

I’m joining Island Voices @ COP29 as a moderator in representation of Small Island Developing States in Baku, Azerbaijan! Make sure you are registered to get updates on the upcoming events - all sessions are free. Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) and Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs) are stuck in a legislative climate finance gray area, when it comes to funding adaptation programmes. Join us in this session focused on identifying and solving these gaps, and implementing the solutions needed for the prosperity of OCTs and SNIJs. The Cabinet of the Special Envoy of the BES-islands Register at: https://lnkd.in/gJ8dFKNX #IslandInnovation #COP29 #IslandVoicesCOP29

Happy Statia Day, Statians!

Today at the #KBCK event (Kingdom course) hosted by De Haagse Hogeschool / The Hague University of Applied Sciences, we had the pleasure of presenting our work and sharing our vision for a sustainable and resilient future for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. Wessel Geursen provided valuable insights into the legal context of living within The Kingdom and the implications of EU membership for the islands. We outlined the role of the Cabinet of the Special Envoy and detailed our 2025 goals, highlighting a regional EU approach and leveraging the islands’ strategic value in the international arena. We also revisited our impactful participation at #COP29, where we addressed crucial topics such as advancing the energy transition for islands and tackling climate finance challenges specific to Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs). A special thanks to The Hague University of Applied Sciences for organizing another successful edition of the KBCK!

At #COP29, our Special Envoy Edison Rijna spoke at the panel discussion “Empowering the Energy Transition: Caribbean Islands Leading the Shift from Fossil Fuels to Renewables,” held at the CARICOM: Caribbean Community Pavilion. This dynamic session, organized by Island Innovation, brought together regional leaders, experts, and stakeholders to discuss the critical path forward for the Caribbean as it transitions from fossil fuel dependency to renewable energy. With a keen focus on the economic implications and the renewable potential of the region—from solar and wind to geothermal and biomass—this event highlighted the Caribbean’s innovative approaches and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Special Envoy shared, among other insights, details of the Clean energy for EU islands Program, in which Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba are active participants. Let’s continue to drive meaningful change and collaborate for a sustainable, resilient future.

Together with the Ministry of Economic Development of Curacao and Island Innovation we organized a powerful session at the #COP29 creating momentum to discuss Financing Climate Challenges for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs). This gathering of passionate leaders, experts, and youth representatives illuminated the unique challenges SNIJs face in accessing climate finance and offered actionable pathways to strengthen collaboration and resilience. Keynotes by Albert Martis and Edison Rijna set a powerful tone, followed by a very important presentation of Aike Krips about the legal side of SNIJs and an insightful panel moderated by James Ellsmoor 🏝️ that brought together voices from the UN, EU, government, and youth sector. Thank you Sai Navoti, Tony Agotha, Vanessa Toré and Noelle A. Young! Next Steps Forward: 1. Advance the legal framework to support better financing access for SNIJs. 2. Facilitate working sessions involving key stakeholders such as SNIJs, international financial institutions, and the UN and EU. 3. Work towards an MOU to solidify collective commitments, with a target of signing by COP30. Want to see a recording of the event? Just click below: https://lnkd.in/eQiJC-Uc We extend our gratitude to all participants for their invaluable contributions. Your continued support and collaboration are vital as we turn these discussions into action and build a sustainable, resilient future for island communities. Stay engaged and join us as we build on this momentum together!

https://lnkd.in/eMajpUVR

Are you an artist or cultural professional located in one of Overseas Countries and Territories? Get an extra 150€ top-up to your #CultureMovesEurope grant. 🌍🐠 👉 For more info about the call follow the link https://lnkd.in/ezEY7cfJ #CreativeEurope

🖋️ Over two impactful days, the Cabinet of the Special Envoy hosted a Masterclass on Succesful EU Proposal Writing, bringing together dedicated organizations and participants from Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and Saba. Led by expert Felix Braeckman participants gained hands-on experience in crafting strong EU proposals, with key insights including: 🇪🇺 Building project objectives that align with EU priorities 🌎 Collaborating with fellow BES-island organizations and regional partners to form strong consortiums for proposal submissions We are excited to see how these new skills and connections will translate into successful projects that bring growth and resilience to the BES-islands. Thank you to all the participants and Felix Braeckman for sharing his expertise! #EUProposalWriting #CapacityBuilding #BESIslands