Organisers of EcoFest 2026 drew more than 450 people to the Camana Bay Arts and Recreation Centre in Grand Cayman on August 8 as young organisers and environmental groups promoted ways for residents to respond to climate change. The inaugural festival brought together more than 40 organisations, community groups, sustainable businesses and vendors at Camana Bay in Grand Cayman. Interact Central Cayman Islands organised the inaugural festival to show residents that environmental action needs not only feel distant or overwhelming.

Under the theme 'Our Islands, Our Climate, Our Future,' visitors moved between interactive booths, met young leaders and environmental groups, discovered sustainable products and services and took part in activities. Organisers said the strong turnout showed there was an appetite in Cayman for clear, local steps on issues such as renewable energy, waste reduction and support for environmental initiatives.

A student idea turned into a community event

The idea for EcoFest began with student leader and Interact Central Cayman Islands President Zara Majid during the 2024 Sustainable Development Goals and Interschool Challenge. What started as a student concept grew into a wider community event that brought together young people, sponsors, volunteers and environmental partners.

Majid said the aim was to make the issues easier for people to understand and act on.

"EcoFest was created to show people that environmental action does not have to feel distant or overwhelming," she said. "There are organisations, businesses and young people right here in Cayman already developing solutions and creating opportunities to get involved. We wanted to bring them together in one place so that members of the community could learn, connect and leave feeling empowered to take action."

That message ran through the festival from start to finish. Instead of a formal presentation on climate change, visitors were able to speak directly with organisations already working on the issue in Cayman. They could learn what is being done, ask questions and see how they might take part themselves.

Turning concern into practical action

EcoFest comes against a backdrop of growing concern about the effects of climate change on the islands. The Government's 2022 Climate Change Risk Assessment found significant risks for Cayman, including threats to marine ecosystems, coastal protection, infrastructure and the economy. The public survey carried out as part of that assessment received 1,085 responses and showed a high level of concern.

But organisers said awareness alone was not enough. The challenge was helping people move from knowing there was a problem to understanding what they could do about it. EcoFest was designed to bridge that gap by focusing on everyday choices, sustainability and local climate action.

Visitors met environmental organisations, young advocates and sustainable businesses at interactive booths. They also discovered products and services that pointed to small but practical changes residents could make, from thinking differently about waste to supporting renewable energy and local environmental efforts. The event also included food, entertainment and a free raffle with more than 45 donated prizes.

Interact's Public Image Director Sivaanaa D'Cunha said the island's size could make the issue easy to overlook.

"On a small island like Cayman it's easy for us to brush the effects of climate change aside since they haven't gotten to the point of being unbearable," she said. "As seen in the survey, many people don't know what to do, which is why the small, actionable steps shared at EcoFest are so valuable."

The festival focused on renewable energy, waste reduction, local environment projects and everyday choices that could reduce harm. Organisers said those were the kinds of practical steps they wanted residents to take away from the event.

Young people at the centre of the event

One of the most notable parts of EcoFest was that young people were not only attending. They were helping to lead it. Majid and other Interact members played key roles in planning and delivering the festival, which organisers said reflected their belief that young Caymanians should have a meaningful voice in shaping the islands' future.

Interact member Rayne Harding, the organisation's co-vice president, said environmental action had always been personal to her.

"Even if I'm walking down the street and I see trash in the road, I pick it up," she said. "I love caring for the environment. When I was younger, I wanted to be a garbage collector because the environment is so important."

Another co-vice president, Achu Pathak, said the event was also a way to highlight groups that may not be widely known but were still doing important work.

"I've done a lot of beach clean-ups and been involved in other programmes involving environmental sustainability," she said. "I hope that we can raise awareness about different companies that maybe have not been well-known but played a valuable role in keeping our island clean."

The event also reflected wider public discussion about climate resilience in Cayman. The Government's 2024-2050 Climate Change Policy set out a long-term framework for responding to climate risks, while the earlier risk assessment and public engagement pointed to continuing concern about the islands' vulnerability. The policy and the assessment point to the same reality: the islands face serious environmental pressure, and responses will need community buy-in and government planning.

Support from across the community

EcoFest also depended on wide community support. More than 40 organisations took part, according to Interact Central Cayman Islands, including environmental groups, community organisations, sustainable businesses and vendors. The event's sponsors included Dart, Caribbean Utilities Company, the Ministry of Health, Environment and Sustainability, the Cayman Turtle Centre and GreenTech Solar.

Interact also thanked Rotary Central Cayman Islands, its sponsoring Rotary club, along with parents, volunteers, exhibitors and community partners who helped with planning and delivery. The event drew support from environmental groups, community organisations, businesses, government sponsors and volunteers. Organisers said the turnout showed the issue now reached beyond one sector.

For Majid, the turnout mattered as much as the number of exhibitors.

"Most of all, we thank every person who came through the doors," she said. "Whether you helped with setup or breakdown, hosted a booth, volunteered your time or simply came to enjoy and learn from the event, your support means more than you know. Without you, EcoFest 2026 would not have been such a resounding success."

The organisers said they planned to build on the inaugural event with EcoFest 2027, though they did not yet say what changes, costs or targets would shape a second festival. They said the first festival had shown what could happen when young people, businesses, community groups and Government partners worked together around a shared message.

For Cayman, that message is straightforward. Climate change is not only a distant global issue. It is a local one, with consequences for beaches, reefs, mangroves, infrastructure and daily life. EcoFest 2026 aims to make that clear, while also showing residents that they could begin with small, practical steps that add up over time and support Cayman Islands' climate resilience.