Small Islands Big Picture

In this episode, Emily and Matt try to find out why it has blazed such a successful trail, what reforms might ultimately result from it, and where SIDS fit into the process.  Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldAlicia Nicholls | Trade Policy Expert from BarbadosMichael Jacobs | Professor of Political Economy, University of Sheffield, and Visiting Senior Fellow, ODI GlobalPep Bardouille | Director of the Bridgetown Initiative and Special Adviser on Climate Resilience, Barbados Prime Minister's Office Resources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)Official website | The Bridgetown Initiative 3.0Michael’s recent ODI Piece | The New Development and Climate Finance AgendaMichael’s accompanying report|International development and climate finance: the new agendaOur forthcoming book | Sustaining Development in Small IslandsOur report on loss and damage | The price of a changing climate: extreme weather and economic loss and damage in SIDSOur report on poverty | Islands at the Edge: How climate shocks shape poverty in SIDSOur Conversation Piece | Extreme weather has already cost vulnerable island nations US$141 billion—or about US$2,000 per personRESI Brochure | Towards a New Knowledge Architecture for SIDSOur T20 policy brief | Financing Resilient Prosperity in SIDSAnother T20 policy brief by our friends in Barbados | An Inclusive Agenda for SIDS at the G20 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 2024, the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) took place in Antigua, where leaders agreed the next ten-year roadmap for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the “Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS: A Renewed Agenda for Resilient Prosperity (ABAS)”.In this episode, Emily and Matt review the conference, bringing to life the event’s atmosphere, discussing key highlights, and – crucially – asking “What now needs to happen for the ABAS to be successful over the next decade?”.In “Island Voices”, Naya Sena provides a civil society perspective on SIDS4. In the “Explainer”, Margot St John-Sebastian talks through the negotiating process that produced the ABAS. In “The Big Picture”, Sai Navoti, Rebecca Fabrizi and Tumasie Blair reflect separately on their conference highlights.Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODIMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldNaya Sena | Researcher, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, University of TokyoMargot St John-Sebastian | Lead Negotiator, AOSISSai Navoti | Chief of the SIDS Unit, UNDESARebecca Fabrizi | UK Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Envoy and Head of the Caribbean and SIDS Department at FCDOTumasie Blair | Deputy Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UNResourcesProgramme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)SIDS4 Communiqué | The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) – A Renewed Declaration for Resilient ProsperitySIDS4 Policy brief | A global bargain for resilient prosperity in SIDSFuture Forum Report | Shaping the Future of Small Island Developing StatesGlobal Voices piece | Why small islands need their own Marshall PlanRESI Debt Project | Breaking the Cycle of Debt in SIDSConversation piece | Debt-disaster-debt: hurricane-damaged islands are being saddled with loans they cannot affordGuardian piece | Caribbean leaders call for ‘Marshall plan’ to help rebuild after Hurricane Beryl Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Citizenship is traditionally granted by right – on the basis of birthplace or parentage – or acquired through naturalisation – on the basis of sustained residency and allegiance to the state. Yet, many small countries are increasingly “selling sovereignty” through Citizenship by Investment (CBI) or Residence by Investment (RBI) schemes. These “golden passports” and “golden visas” generate sizeable revenues for many small island developing states (SIDS), but they have also come under scrutiny from powerful states and international organisations, especially the European Union.In this episode of Small Islands Big Picture, Emily and Matt explore the proliferation of these schemes, asking, ‘If all states – including the very wealthiest – have them, why do smaller states seem to be under the greatest surveillance?’. They discuss the long-term sustainability of these schemes, where the money they generate is going, examples of good practice, and how the international community can support SIDS to ensure they continue to profit from CBI/RBI schemes while also strengthening their governance.In “Island Voices”, we hear from CEO of the Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, Tina Urso. In the “Explainer”, Matt and Emily discuss the different kinds of CBI/RBI schemes that exist around the world. Dr Dan Hammett and Dr Owen Parker join “The Big Picture” to discuss why the CBI and RBI industry is booming, and why Brussels is increasingly uneasy about it. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions”, Matt and Emily ask, “If CBI and RBI schemes are so problematic, why does the international community not simply ban them?”.Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Senior Research Fellow at ODIMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldTina Urso | CEO, The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation, MaltaDan Hammett | Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, University of SheffieldOwen Parker | Senior Lecturer in European Politics, University of SheffieldResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)Investigative Journalism from Malta | The Daphne ProjectDan and Owen's SIDS Future Forum paper | Sovereignty sales, economic revitalisation and inclusive development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)Dan Presenting on CBI Schemes | Session 1 (Resilient Economies) at SIDS Future Forum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Each decade since the mid-1990s, the United Nations has convened a high-level international summit – bringing together small-island governments, large-state donor partners, international organisations and representatives from civil society – to agree the next ten-year agenda for Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) development diplomacy. The fourth of these conferences (SIDS4) will take place in Antigua-Barbuda in May 2024, under the theme ‘Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity’.SIDS4 is the most important of these decennial conferences so far, taking place at a critical juncture in the global context and at an especially challenging time for small island states. Consequently, Emily and Matt devote the entirety of this episode to a roundtable discussion with three key protagonists in the SIDS4 process:Tumasie Blair, Antigua-Barbuda’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UNAmbassador Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa'olelei Luteru of Samoa, Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and Permanent Representative of Samoa (the 2014 host state)Dr Simona Marinescu, Senior Advisor on SIDS at the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS)The episode explores what will happen at SIDS4, how the agenda has been developed, and in which policy areas SIDS will make the biggest demands of the international community. Looking ahead to the new 10-year agenda that will replace The SAMOA Pathway, Emily and Matt ask 'What can we expect from the Antigua-Barbuda Accord for SIDS (ABAS) 2024-34?' and, crucially, 'How will it deliver genuinely “resilient prosperity"?'.Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Senior Research Fellow at ODIMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldFatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa'olelei Luteru | AOSIS Chair and Permanent Representative of Samoa to the UNTumasie Blair | Deputy Permanent Representative of Antigua-Barbuda to the UNSimona Marinescu | Senior Advisor on SIDS, UNOPSResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)RESI policy brief | A Global Bargain for Resilient Prosperity in SIDSSIDS4 website | 4th International Conference on Small Island Developing StatesRESI summary on SIDS4 preparatory process | Preparatory meetings for the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States: participation, priorities and outcomesSIDS Future Forum information | ODI webpageRegister to attend the SIDS Future Forum | Island Innovation’s website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode of "Small Islands Big Picture" Emily and Matt discuss the problem of sea-level rise, the challenges it poses to sustainable development – especially for low-lying island nations – and what might be done about it. Ian Fry explains why sea-level rise is such a multifaceted problem. In "Island Voices", Dr Michelle Scobie talks about the critical role of environmental governance. In “The Big Picture”, Dr Tammy Tabe and Professor Jon Barnett talk us through why conventional responses to sea-level rise – such as resettling people – often ignore the desires and adaptation plans of island communities. In "No Stupid Questions", Matt and Emily ask "How might the world better cope with climate-induced migration?".Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Senior Research Fellow at ODIMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldDr Michelle Scobie | RESI Co-Director, Senior Lecturer in International Law and Global Environmental Governance at the University of the West Indies, and Advisor at the Commonwealth SecretariatIan Fry | UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Context of Climate ChangeDr Tammy Tabe | Oceania Research Fellow at the East-West CenterProfessor Jon Barnett | Professor and Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow at the School of Geography, Melbourne UniversityResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)RESI policy brief | A global bargain for resilient prosperity in Small Island Developing StatesConversation blog | Why a chain of tiny Pacific islands wants an international court opinionIan’s papers on climate litigation | Legal options to protect human rights of displaced persons and Promotion and protection of human rights in the context of climate changeEmily’s documentary | Climate Blueprint: Dominica Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of "Small Islands, Big Picture", Emily and Matthew look at the United Nation's new Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), how it relates to age-old debates about small-state vulnerability, and why it could lead to a long-overdue shift in the allocation of international aid. In "Island Voices", Theresa Meki speaks about the meaning of vulnerability and George Carter highlights different aspects of SIDS' vulnerability that need to be considered. In "The Big Picture", Fatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa'olelei Luteru reports on how work on the MVI is proceeding. In "No Stupid Questions", Emily and Matt answer "Does thinking of Small Island Developing States through the prism of vulnerability risk infantilising them?".Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Senior Research Fellow, ODIMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer, University of SheffieldGaston Browne | Prime Minister of Antigua-Barbuda and Co-Chair, UN High-Level Panel on the MVIFatumanava-o-Upolu III Dr Pa'olelei Luteru | Permanent Respresentative of Samoa, UN High-Level Panel on the MVITheresa Meki | Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National UniversityGeorge Carter | RESI Co-director and Department of Pacific Affairs, Australian National UniversityResources:ODI event | Putting the Glasgow Climate Pact into action: accounting for vulnerabilityProgramme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)Policy brief | A global bargain for resilient prosperity in Small Island Developing StatesUN website | Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States“Small Islands, Big Picture” is a new podcast from The Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) and ODI which will shine a spotlight on the unique challenges and remarkable resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) around the world. Hosts - and RESI directors – Dr Emily Wilkinson and Dr Matthew Bishop will be joined by expert guests from the Caribbean, Pacific and beyond to discuss the political, economic, social and environmental issues facing SIDS today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.