Agrigento signs MoU during New York Climate Week with Greening the Islands Foundation and Blue Planet Alliance, taking the lead as the first municipality to join the 100×100 Campaign

The Municipality becomes an international pilot case, with a local administration taking the lead on its own 100% renewable energy transition and setting an example for Sicily and for towns across Italy and beyond

New York, 25th September 2026 – The Municipality of Agrigento today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Greening the Islands Foundation (GTI) and Blue Planet Alliance (BPA), joining the 100×100 Campaign and GTI’s 100% RES Islands Initiative as the first municipality to join as a case study of a local community taking the lead on its own energy transition towards 100% RES, an approach welcomed by IRENA, UNDP, the Global Solar Council and the Global Renewable Alliance. Through the Global Solar Council, Agrigento also becomes part of the 300 Million Solar Homes programme.

In doing so, Agrigento becomes the first local administration to take the lead on its own renewable energy transition through this approach, applying the experience of islands to a mainland Italian town and setting an example other Italian municipalities, and administrations internationally, can follow. Agrigento also intends to formalise its membership in the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy in the months ahead, a further step toward extending its leadership beyond Italy.

Under the MoU, Agrigento commits to achieving 100% renewable energy by 2045 or sooner, endorsing GTI’s Island Model as a way to lead by example for the whole of Sicily and beyond. In turn, BPA and GTI commit to supporting Agrigento’s transition through a comprehensive strategy: tailored roadmaps spanning technology, policy and finance, technical training and capacity building, and support in facilitating investment and enabling implementation, at no cost to the Municipality.

Through the 100×100 Campaign, Agrigento joins a movement working toward commitments from 100 islands worldwide by 2030, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the 2050 global climate goals.

With around 55,000 residents and a wider population of over 400,000, Agrigento combines one of the most acute grid vulnerabilities in Sicily with globally recognised heritage, including the Valley of the Temples. Recurring power outages, worsened by wildfires and extreme heat, alongside Italy’s above-EU-average power prices, have made energy resilience a pressing local priority.

Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, sits at the centre of Italy’s energy debate: rich in renewable resources, but held back by the same grid bottlenecks and permitting delays as much of the country. By taking the lead locally, Agrigento becomes a replicable proof of concept, drawing on the lessons of small islands to lead its own energy transition.

The Mayor of Agrigento stated, “With the New York Agreement, signed on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly, Agrigento is taking an important leap into the future and becoming the pilot project in Sicily for achieving energy independence and 100% renewables by 2045. It is an ambitious challenge which, thanks to the support, expertise and international network of Blue Planet Alliance and Greening the Islands Foundation, can be turned into concrete projects and global investment in our territory. 2045 may seem far away, but it is built day by day. Thank you to Henk Rogers and Gianni Chianetta for choosing Agrigento as the starting point of this journey”.

“We’re delighted to welcome Agrigento as the first Italian municipality to set out on the path to full electrification powered by 100% renewables. We believe it can become an example for the whole of Sicily and for municipalities around the world. Today’s signing marks the start of an energy revolution that begins in local communities. Together with Blue Planet Alliance and our other partners, GTI is committed to supporting local administrations like Agrigento that want to build resilience and tackle energy poverty through renewables.” Gianni Chianetta, Chair, GTI.

“The real solution to climate change comes from the policies of territories, not only from international agreements: local communities know their own vulnerabilities and priorities best, and are best placed to act on them.

The 100×100 initiative, promoted by Greening the Islands Foundation, proves this in practice, supporting 100 islands by 2030 in reaching 100% renewables by 2045 or sooner is a model of bottom-up climate governance. It turns islands from victims of climate change into protagonists of its solution.” Stated Francesco Corvaro, Italy’s Special Envoy for Climate Change.

“Through Blue Planet Alliance’s work with islands and communities around the world, and our partnership with Greening the Islands, we have seen firsthand that islands can lead the way in developing solutions for a cleaner, more resilient future. That’s why I founded Blue Planet Alliance: to help islands, states and countries reach 100% renewable energy by 2045, building on Hawaii’s example as the first U.S. state to make that commitment. What Agrigento is doing is important because it shows what’s possible when a community sets a clear and ambitious vision for a 100% renewable energy future.

As we continue to support Agrigento, we hope to show how clean energy can strengthen resilience, increase energy independence, and create a more sustainable future. Together with GTI and the Municipality of Agrigento, we look forward to making this city a model for Sicily, for Italy and for communities everywhere”. Founder and CEO BPA, Henk Rogers.

“The Global Solar Council is pleased to support this initiative. As islands clearly demonstrate, the role of solar and storage is strategically important for the sustainable development, energy security, and climate resilience of every community,” commented Sonia Dunlop, CEO of the Global Solar Council, the world’s leading organisation for the solar industry.