Special Envoy Edison Rijna Highlights Importance of New Forum for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions

Special Envoy Edison Rijna played a key role in the launch of the 1st Forum for Sub-National Island Jurisdictions (SNIJs), an initiative aimed at improving access to climate finance for island territories that fall outside traditional funding structures. 

The agreement to establish the Forum was signed in the lead-up to the Global Sustainable Island Summit (GSIS), to be held in May 2025 in St. Kitts and Nevis.

Rijna, representing Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, emphasized the need for SNIJs—territories with varying degrees of autonomy but attached to larger nations like the Netherlands, France, or the USA—to work together to address shared challenges such as climate impacts and economic vulnerabilities. “We are confronted by the same storms, droughts, and disruptions, but lack clear pathways to climate financing,” Rijna stated, calling the Forum a vital platform for collective action.

Stronger voice

The Forum, developed in collaboration with Island Innovation, Curaçao, and Nevis, seeks to give these island jurisdictions a stronger voice on the international stage, particularly in discussions about sustainable development and climate resilience.