Leve Global is proud to be part of the Global Sustainable Islands Summit (GSIS), a gathering that places island innovation, leadership, and resilience at the centre of global sustainability discourse. The summit is taking place on the incredible twin-island state of St. Kitts and Nevis.

As consultants and strategists with deep roots in island development, GSIS is not just another summit—it’s a convergence of shared challenges and shared opportunities. The summit was a powerful reminder that while islands may be on the frontline of climate risk, they are also on the frontline of climate solutions.

The Power of Island Governance and Innovation

The opening session, “Governance, Innovation, and Climate Action: Building a Sustainable Future for Islands”, set the tone with one core message: island nations are no longer waiting for global systems to catch up—they are leading. From Tonga to the Tobago, local governments are advancing clean energy transitions, designing policy frameworks for blue and green economies, and leveraging community-based resilience models.

A particularly resonant theme was the call for reimagined governance—one that’s participatory, people-focused, and future-facing. Speakers emphasized that true innovation doesn’t always mean new technology—it often means new thinking, rooted in cultural knowledge, ecological wisdom, and the political courage to act.

Leve Global at the Forefront: Reframing Scale and Purpose

Kevon Wilson, Senior Analyst at Leve Global, made three impactful interventions that pushed the conversation toward a broader, more strategic vision for island futures.

First, he challenged the conventional geographic lens through which Caribbean islands are viewed. While the land mass of the Caribbean is often cited as approximately 635,000 square kilometres, Wilson pointed out that this drastically underestimates the region’s true scale. When we factor in the ocean sovereignties surrounding these islands, we’re looking at over two million square kilometres of sovereign space—rich in marine resources and blue economy potential. “We must start measuring our islands differently,” he asserted. “Our ocean territories are not margins—they are central to economic transformation.”

Capacity Building for What?

Second, during a session on capacity building, Wilson posed a pointed question: “Capacity building for what?” He noted that while climate risks and sustainability challenges are important, they are often framed as problems to be mitigated. Instead, the narrative must evolve to see the environment as an economic driver. He built on the remarks of the Premier of Nevis—who emphasized economic transformation and Nevis’s ambition to become a net exporter of renewable energy—by advocating for a new economic paradigm. This includes exporting environmental services, attracting global universities to conduct ecological and sustainability research, and cultivating a different kind of high-value tourism clientele. “It’s time we stop treating the environment as something to protect from the economy,” he said, “and start treating it as the economy itself.”

Tourism as a Catalyst for Economic Transformation

On Day 3, during the session on sustainable tourism development, Kevon Wilson delivered a strong and deliberate message: “Tourism, more than any other sector, has the power to create real economic transformation and generate wealth—not just at the national level, but for average men, women and young people, even in rural communities.”

His intervention underscored the unmatched potential of tourism to foster cross-sectoral linkages—spanning agriculture, creative industries, fisheries, construction, transport, and more. He emphasized that tourism, when developed responsibly and inclusively, can be the beating heart of a small island’s economy, capable of lifting communities out of poverty and into prosperity.

Kevon also prompted a rich discussion by inviting the Minister from Turks and Caicos to share insights on how their government is working to ensure that tourism dollars reach the grassroots. His call to action challenged participants to look beyond visitor arrivals and GDP figures, and instead focus on how tourism can become a vehicle for widespread and equitable development in SIDS.

Climate Resilience: From Concept to Practice

What was striking about the GSIS conference was the clarity of purpose among island leaders. Resilience was not discussed as an abstract concept but demonstrated through action. From vertical farming and solar microgrids to national adaptation plans and innovative financing mechanisms, the message was clear: resilience is being operationalized.

Leve Global resonates deeply with this approach. Our own work across Caribbean and island nations has shown that localised, practical, and inclusive strategies—especially those co-created with communities—are the most sustainable and effective.

Reframing the Narrative: Not Just Vulnerable, But Visionary

One of the most refreshing elements of the GSIS session was the insistence on shifting the narrative. Islands are too often portrayed as helpless victims of climate change. But GSIS turned this on its head. The discussions celebrated islands as visionary laboratories of sustainability—places where bold ideas are not only imagined but implemented.

This is a narrative that Leve Global has championed for over 30 years: Islands are not just adapting—they are advancing. We’ve seen firsthand how strategic tourism development, regenerative agriculture, sustainable energy, and digital innovation can transform small island economies into global exemplars of resilience.

Call to Action: From Talk to Transformation

A recurring theme throughout the conference was urgency. Island leaders are tired of declarations—they want implementation, investment, and impact. There was a strong call for meaningful partnerships, fit-for-purpose funding models, and knowledge-sharing across regions.

As Leve Global continues to engage with partners and clients across island states, we are more committed than ever to driving integrated, systemic change. From policy to practice, our work supports the very kind of climate leadership that GSIS amplifies.