Ep.31: Island Innovation and Sustainable Development with James Ellsmoor

The Sargassum Podcast

Our guest today is James Ellsmoor, who is the Founder and Director of Island Innovation, which connects rural and island locations around the world working on similar development issues. Island Innovation began with a newsletter and a series of virtual events, and has evolved into a community of over 127,000 members. He is also the co-founder of Solar Head of State, which works with governments to push action on renewable energy. The NGO has focused on small island developing states (SIDS) with solar installations on the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica, Government House in Saint Lucia and the Presidential Palace of the Maldives. SHOS is now working with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and the Pacific Island Development Forum to install solar on the official residences across these organizations’ combined 24 member states. James has a master’s degree in “Island Studies” from the University of the Highlands and Islands and is a true expert on sustainability on islands.

Listen to the episode to hear about:

- Introduction of our summer intern Eloise (0:50)

- How Franziska got involved with Island Innovation (2:17)

- Introduction of James Ellsmoor (3:40)

- What sargassum means to James (5:14)

- What an island is and what it means to be an islander (7:35)

- Common challenges of island life (8:33)

- How islands drive innovation (9:25)

- Advantages of island life (12:18)

- Political implications of being an island community (16:56)

- Viewing sargassum as an opportunity (23:08)

- What Island Innovation is (25.38)

- Getting involved (26:36)

- Community discussions around sargassum (28:30)

- Island Innovation Summit (30:36)

- Debrief (33:51)

Episode Transcript

Learn more about James Ellsmoor and Island Innovation:

֍ Website

֍ YouTube

֍ LinkedIn

֍ Facebook

֍ Twitter

֍ Instagram

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