25th Inter-Island Environment Meeting 2025

IIEM25 celebrated 25 years of the Inter-Island Environment Meeting bringing together environmentalists, conservationists, and environmentally-minded organisations and businesses from the UK Crown Dependencies and other British Islands and Ireland. The 25th IIEM was held for the first time in the Isle of Man after being set up and hosted in the Channel Islands for 24 years. The theme for IIEM25 was Collaboration for Greater Impact.

IIEM25 was hosted over three days at the Villa Marina in Douglas. The traditional IIEM took place on the first two days, with a series of presentations from the delegates on the environmental work and issues in their islands, as well as an afternoon of field trips around the Island. We then held a third extra day, focused on how environmental organisations can collaborate and build partnerships with corporate businesses, to benefit biodiversity, reduce climate change, and enable businesses to engage their staff in environmental issues, both locally and globally. See the programme below.

The whole event also had a special 25th-anniversary flavour!

Wednesday 17th September: Talks & Q&A sessions on conservation and environmental topics during the day. The official IIEM25 celebration event then took place in the evening at Government House, hosted by MWT's patrons His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor for the Isle of Man, Sir John and Lady Lorimer.

Thursday 18th September: Morning talks and Q&A sessions followed by a choice of afternoon field trips to see and experience a range of wonderful landscapes, habitats, and environmental projects across the Isle of Man, the world's only whole nation UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Friday 19th September: Focused on building corporate collaborations and partnerships, to collectively deliver global and local biodiversity and climate targets. The day included keynote talks from Jonathan Andrews from Remarkable Partnerships (www.remarkablepartnerships.com), and leaders from businesses in the Crown Dependencies who are driving the sustainability and green financing agenda. There was an opportunity for environmental organisations to present on important work streams, and develop corporate connections and support. There was also more in-depth facilitated discussions including environmentalists and businesses in workshops to develop collaboration ideas and the opportunity to pitch in for a small seed fund! The Friday was closed by Hon Alfred Cannan MHK, Chief Minister.

More Information

• Find out about other IIEM events and watch or listen to previous presentations by going to https://iiem.events/
• Sign up for email updates here https://iiem.events/email-list/

IIEM Collaboration Challenge Winners

Thie Ny Shee (Isle of Man) – 1st place, £1,500 – for transforming school grounds into vibrant outdoor spaces that combine education, therapy, and nature.

Alderney Wildlife Trust – 2nd place, £500 – for its “Once and Future Woodland Project” to restore native woodland.

Jersey Marine Conservation – Judges’ Commendation, £125.

Outdoor Learning Centre, Isle of Man – Judges’ Commendation, £125.