All regions of the world are continuously undergoing change, but in the era of globalization, these shifts are occurring at an accelerated pace and affecting different geographic areas in diverse ways. Islands, often situated on the periphery of continents or nations, tend to be less developed than their mainland counterparts and face greater challenges in managing the impacts of extreme events and processes that hinder their development. Due to their geographic isolation, islands must rely on their sometimes limited resources, with local communities playing a pivotal role in fostering sustainability. This progress depends on strong collaboration between local communities and local, regional, and national authorities. This session explores the geography of islands during a period of profound economic, demographic, and cultural transformation in Europe, with islands, as part of its periphery, being especially impacted. We encourage contributions that critically examine the challenges of island development while proposing sustainable solutions. Topics of particular interest include:

– Sustainable economic development and implementating projects aligned with SMART Islands iniciative

– Advancing the social economy

– Financiarization, real estate land grabbing and tourism

– Enhancing island infrastructure and leveraging technological innovation and digitalization

– Demographic challenges facing islands

– Dispossesion and right to the island

– Migration and its impact on island societies and spaces

– Improving healthcare and social services on islands

– Climate change, island ecology, biodiversity hotspots, limiting biophisical factors and other key issues and challenges

Other research topics related to island geography are also welcome.

This session has been recommended by the Steering Committee of the IGU Commission on Islands.