Offshore Renewables for Resilient Islands

Small Island Developing States face acute exposure to climate impacts, a dependence on imported fossil fuels, volatile energy prices, infrastructure constraints and limited access to affordable finance. Many hold significant offshore renewable potential, including offshore wind, which can support more resilient and prosperous island systems, widen electrification, meet growing demand and decarbonise transport, maritime transport included. At the Pacific energy and transport ministers’ meeting in May 2026, ministers adopted the Manubada Call to Action, restating a shared vision of a 100% renewable energy future for the Blue Pacific. Converting that potential into projects is the harder task. Offshore installations carry high upfront costs, and access to affordable finance is limited. Projects of this kind need visible pipeline and an enabling environment, grids above all, before capital will commit. Instruments to improve financing conditions for islands now exist, including regional facilities, international funds and philanthropic partners. Blended finance, green bonds and climate resilience funds can reduce risk and financing costs, and mobilise private capital. The session brings governments, technical institutions and financiers into one room. It works through two questions: how the instruments already on the table can be sequenced to deliver a small but visible portfolio of Pacific Island projects that can move towards implementation, and which enabling conditions remain to be met. It opens on why the Pacific question matters at COP31, turns to the handoff from Pacific planning to investable programs, then hands to a panel spanning Pacific governments, a development bank and a regional technical institution. Participants in the room are invited to contribute before the session closes.