Islands Forum Meeting - ‘the power of islands coming together to meet shared challenges’

The inaugural Islands Forum meeting in Orkney has been hailed as a great example of the 'power of people coming together to meet shared challenges' according to Orkney Islands Council Leader James Stockan.

The Forum, which took place this week at the Orkney Research & Innovation Campus, focused on the opportunities for islands around net zero and was attended by council leaders and chief executives representing all eligible island communities from across the UK.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Relations, Nadhim Zahawi, chaired the meeting supported by Levelling Up Minister Dehenna Davison, Net Zero Minister Chris Skidmore and Scotland Office Minister Malcolm Offord.

All of the devolved governments were also represented, with Northern Ireland Minister John O'Dowd, Scottish Government Minister Richard Lochhead and Welsh Government Minister Julie James taking part.

"Bringing all those people together, under one roof, speaking with a collective voice, right here in Orkney will have a tremendous benefit as island groups across the UK look to tackle the common challenges we face.

"The power of people coming together to discuss and to meet shared challenges head on cannot be underestimated.  

"By bringing the island groups together we've been able to really hammer home to UK Government Ministers and civil servants the range of issues we face, drill down into the detail and start to look at tangible steps that can be taken to address these issues.  

“Net Zero dominated our discussions and there is no doubt, particularly having had the opportunity to discuss the constraints that regulation places upon us direct with Ofgem, there's a truer understanding of the shortcomings of the current system - and a real drive from the UK Government to take steps to address those shortcomings for our island communities.”