On 10–11 September 2026, the island of Pantelleria hosted an event celebrating the results of Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) “Green Islands” programme, bringing together island leaders, national institutions, researchers and technical experts to reflect on the experience gained and discuss the future of the ecological transition of small islands.
The event, titled Ecological Transition of Italian Small Islands, was organised by the Municipality of Pantelleria, with support from Politecnico di Torino and the patronage of the NRRP Mission Unit of the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE). It marked the culmination of a national programme aimed at accelerating the sustainability transition of Italy's smaller islands while opening a broader dialogue on the policies, partnerships and funding mechanisms needed beyond the NRRP period.
Discussions focused on key themes for island communities, including energy, sustainable mobility, water management, circular economy, blue economy and governance. The event also provided an opportunity to assess the impacts of investments delivered under the “Green Islands” programme and explore how these achievements can be translated into long-term strategies for resilient and sustainable island development.
Pantelleria itself showcased several projects implemented through the programme, including renewable energy installations and sustainable mobility measures. According to the Municipality, these include a hybrid wind-photovoltaic plant, a photovoltaic installation at the municipal slaughterhouse, a solar canopy near the island hospital and electric buses funded through the “Green Islands” initiative.
In Pantelleria, mayors and local administrators, island associations, institutions, universities and technical experts came together, bringing to the discussion the experiences of the non-interconnected Italian islands. This national-level exchange made it possible to highlight not only the specific characteristics of each territory, but above all the many challenges they share in advancing the energy transition and building more sustainable and resilient island communities.
The Clean energy for EU islands secretariat was represented by Riccardo Novo, who contributed to the discussions alongside representatives of island administrations, national authorities, research organisations and technical stakeholders. The exchanges highlighted the importance of ensuring that the knowledge, experience and infrastructure developed through island energy transition projects continue to generate benefits beyond the lifetime of individual funding programmes.
As islands across Europe work towards climate neutrality and greater energy resilience, events like this provide valuable opportunities to share lessons learned, strengthen cooperation, and identify pathways for future investment. The discussions in Pantelleria reinforced the role islands can play as pioneers of innovative, locally tailored solutions for the clean energy transition.
