SustainaBUL Awards 2026 deepen Curaçao's Green Wave on Earth Day: from local talent to global knowledge partners

CURACAO (WILLEMSTAD) - During Earth Day 2026 – Our Power, Our Planet, NOS ISLA – the SustainaBUL Awards 2026 marked the next, deepening phase in the growing Green Wave from Curaçao.

In the Auditorium of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten, students, companies and social partners came together to discuss the future of Curaçao as a resilient Small Island State.

The auditorium was filled to the last seat, with more than 200 attendees. The SustainaBUL Awards are organized in collaboration with the 2030 HUB Caribbean Foundation and are anchored in an accredited bachelor's program at the University of Curaçao (UoC).

Students earn credits while working on real sustainability issues from society. Student teams presented future-oriented solutions, developed with leading organizations, such as APC, Vidanova, Aqualectra, MEO-CTB, Deloitte and MNO Vervat.

This year it was MNO Vervat who became the winner with their Table Mountain Challenge. In addition, there was a winning team from the UoC Green Campus Challenge, supported by MCB, with its own UoC Impact HUB.

One of the most poignant moments of the evening was the Sustainability Pledge. The Central Bank formed the backdrop for a powerful ritual in which the entire room — students, working professionals and impact makers — jointly and standing expressed their responsibility for the future of Curaçao.

The words 'This is our Power. This is our Planet. Esaki ta NOS ISLA.' resonated palpably through the room, creating a moment of connection, emotion and shared ambition. The opening was performed by Richard Doornbosch, President of the Central Bank of Curaçao and Sint Maarten.

As a token of appreciation for hosting the final event, he received a special gift signed by the SustainaBUL Class of 2026 cohort. It underlined the partnership between students, institutions and the business community.

A substantive focus was the contribution of Eugene Rhuggenaath, Executive Director at the World Bank, in an interview with students. He emphasized the importance of Green Skills for Small States and outlined how the World Bank is developing from financier to Knowledge Bank, with collaborations up to university level.

He also mentioned concrete opportunities for cooperation with the UoC, including working visits to Washington DC. "Choose your focus and topic, and lets make it happen. This is a time for bold actions. Be the Change you want to see. I'm ready to do my part".

The translation of ideas into realization also became visible. MCB committed to an impact seed investment of XCG 25,000 for the further development of the UoC Impact HUB. ACU follows with a commitment of XCG 10,000, combined with internships for students and the ambition of a joint knowledge and learning program.

MNO Vervat joins this green coalition as a construction partner to realize things. "We are more the makers; let's start by building this test case on the UoC Campus," says Harmen Visser of MNO Vervat.

The evening was not only about knowledge and concrete impact ideas, but also about responsible entertainment, excitement and connection. During DE Groene Borrel, the Atrium of the Central Bank was transformed into a Green Experience Center, with the Inner Development Goals coming to life through personal portraits of participating students, with Green Wave cocktails and through inspiring encounters.

The Rector Magnificus of the University of Curaçao, Dr. Stella van Rijn, emphasized the importance of SustainaBUL as a driver for educational innovation and social impact. She indicated that Iwan Zunder, as Coordinator of the Center for Sustainable Transitions (CST), will work in the coming period on the safeguarding and regional expansion of the SustainaBUL programme and on the further elaboration of international collaborations, including with the World Bank.

The SustainaBUL Awards 2026 is the next step in further shaping a Green Wave that has only just begun — supported by young talent, empowered by partners and connected to the world.

Opening Remarks by CBCS President Richard Doornbosch:

Good afternoon, distinguished guests, colleagues, supervisory board members, students and fellow green networkers, It is my great pleasure to welcome you here at the Centrale Bank van Curaçao en Sint Maarten for the fourth edition of the UoC SustainaBUL Awards ceremony.

The SustainaBUL Awards program focuses on sustainable transition of our economy, government and society at large. It is a super interesting initiative as it uses and rewards the ingenuity of the young generation with real life problems that need sustainable solutions. It’s a what you call a double-edged sword that provides a learning opportunity for students – you will probably remember for life – with (hopefully) lasting and sustainable solutions for organizations facing challenges typical for small island states.

The focus of today’s SustainaBUL Awards lies with the construction and tourism sectors. Two sectors that we see as very important for our own climate-related work, given both their importance for the economy of Curaçao and their vulnerability to climate change risks.

This is one more reason why we have joined the University of Curaçao as a corporate partner of the SustainaBUL Awards 2026. So why are we as a central bank interested in sustainability and specifically climate change? In recent years, global challenges have tested our ability to adapt - we have seen overlapping shocks since COVID-19.

The war in Ukraine and the rapid rise in food and energy prices, supply chain disruptions, cyber incidents and, most recently, the war in the Middle East and the resulting energy crisis that is more impactful that the energy crisis in the ‘70s according to the head of the IEA in Paris.

These shocks remind us that resilience is essential. We also know that shocks from climate change will be as impactful for small islands as these global shocks. We can use them as a reference point on how to prepare and adapt and transform in the face of uncertainty.

As a central bank, our core mandate is to ensure our financial system can withstand shocks. Geopolitical shocks but just as much climate change shocks. That’s why we find it crucial to better understand these risks. The global economy and financial markets have - for now - held up remarkably well, although they have caused great hardship for many lives and livelihoods.

To secure financial stability, we must continuously invest in the monitoring of systemic risk, conduct research, and apply measures appropriately. A central bank never works alone when conducting new, essential research. While we focus on ensuring that balance sheets of financial institutions become less vulnerable to climate risk, we need partners, such as the Curaçao Meteorological Services, to receive good and accessible climate change data.

Regionally, we collaborate with other central banks on crucial projects such as the development of a green taxonomy, and supervisory guidance for responsible financial management. Therefore, we are also grateful to the University of Curaçao, for organizing the 2025 Green Week with Prof. Jan Rotmans, and now already for the 4th time this super inspiring program with young and bright minds of Curaçao.

The CBCS hosting the SustainaBUL Awards is not intended as a one-time event. Your presence here, today, reflects a broader dialogue that we value - with knowledge institutions and societal partners - on the existential topics of sustainability, resilience, and long-term development.

We think this program will help strengthen the resilience of our community and while working together across generations, it will contribute to a robust National Adaptation Plan for Curaçao. I look forward to the pitches that our students will present today, eager to see how they will contribute to a sustainable Curaçao. And with that I will end and say…good luck and may the best team win!