Collaboration Will Promote Greening the Islands Observatory and Development of Sustainable, Environmentally Friendly Solutions for Islands around the World
VALENCIA, Spain, June 26, 2018 – The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) and Greening The Islands have entered into a cooperation agreement to promote Greening the Islands Observatory (GTI Observatory) a continuous structured research and analysis initiative on energy, water and mobility that looks into island needs across different sectors, starting with water, energy and mobility.
The Observatory will map the most sustainable and innovative solutions and trends on technologies and costs, providing key information to develop strategies and plans that can be deployed on islands and in remote locations around the world.
IDRA will promote communication and dissemination of the GTI Observatory’s results and also promote the GTI Observatory internally in order to support the initiative. In addition, IDRA will actively participate on the GTI Observatory’s Scientific Committee.
“IDRA is pleased to support the work of the GTI Observatory as part of our commitment to support and promote sustainable, environmentally friendly water solutions for people and industry around the world. We believe that the use of renewable energy to power desalination is a game‐changer in this regard, with great potential in remote and island settings in many parts of the world. We look forward to collaborating with the GTI Observatory over the next three years and helping to advance our mutual goals,” said Shannon McCarthy, Secretary General of the International Desalination and Reuse Association.
“At the COP 21 in Paris, governments from all over the world recognized that islands are more exposed to the effects of climate change and that they would be ideal locationsto test technological innovation aimed at environmental protection. Islands strongly need energy and water supply solutions and innovative environmental solutions tested on islands can be replicated in all isolated locations in five continents,” said Gianni Chianetta, Director of GreeningTheIslands.net.
Among the objectives of the GTI Observatory are to analyze and monitor project needs and development opportunities in the energy and environmental sector on small islands in the world. It will also disseminate best practices with regard to innovative energy and environmental solutions, develop tools for technical, economic and feasibility assessment of projects, and provide information and updates on incentives and financing opportunities on islands and in remote locations at the international, national and local levels.
About
Greening The Islands GreeningTheIslands.net is a non‐profit organization set up to promote and disseminate innovative solutions for sustainable development of islands and remote locations. The GTI Observatory was decided in 2015 in occasion of COP21 to analyse the existing situation and monitor energy transition on islands, identifying solutions to the various obstacles as they emerge.
About IDRA
The International Desalination and Reuse Association (www.idadesal.org) is a non‐profit association that serves more than 2,600 core members in 60 countries and reaches an additional 4,000 affiliate members. Its membership comprises scientists, end‐users, engineers, consultants and researchers from governments, corporations and academia. IDRA is associated with the United Nations as part of a growing international network of non‐governmental organizations (NGOs).
