Small Islands: Climate Blueprint Film & SIDS Stories

About this Event

The Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) at ODI Global, in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Barbados and the support of the Geneva Environment Network, is hosting a special event featuring a screening of Climate Blueprint: Barbados and the launch of the State of SIDS Report 2026. The event will bring together policymakers, practitioners and stakeholders to explore the leadership of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in addressing climate challenges and advancing sustainable development. It also part of the Permanent Mission commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Barbados’ independence and the fifth anniversary of its transition to a republic.

The programme will include a documentary screening, the launch of a major new report, ministerial and expert reflections, audience discussion, a special message from Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley of Barbados, and a networking reception.

At the heart of the event is the documentary Climate Blueprint: Barbados, which explores how small island states, despite being on the front lines of the climate crisis, are shaping global solutions and influencing international decision-making. The film highlights the leadership of Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, whose calls for reform of the international financial architecture have placed Barbados at the centre of global conversations on climate justice and sustainable development.

As the second film in RESI’s documentary trilogy, the film examines whether Barbados’ vision and leadership can help unlock the trillions of dollars needed to finance climate resilience and sustainable development, particularly for vulnerable countries facing disproportionate climate risks.

The screening and discussion will provide a platform for frontline voices, policymakers and experts to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing SIDS in an increasingly uncertain world. The event will also serve as the in-person launch of RESI’s flagship State of SIDS Report 2026, combining evidence-based analysis with real-world experiences to support SIDS governments and their partners in advancing just, resilient and sustainable futures. By connecting these priorities with ongoing multilateral processes in Geneva, the event aims to strengthen understanding of the unique contributions of small island states to global climate, development and financing agendas.

Registration

To attend this event kindly register on Indico.

Speakers

By order of intervention. Additional speakers to be confirmed.

H.E. Amb. Matthew WILSON

Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations and other International Organizations in Geneva

Emily WILKINSON

Principal Research Fellow and Director, RESI

Gail HURLEY

Research Associate, ODI Global and Co-Director, RESI

Trailer | Climate Blueprint: Barbados

Climate Blueprint is an ongoing documentary series about the countries doing that work. Each film runs 25 minutes. Each one follows a nation that stopped waiting to be rescued and started building the model everyone else will need.

Climate Blueprint: Barbados, the second film in the series, turns the camera to the front lines of global financial reform, where Barbados has emerged as an unlikely but formidable force in reshaping the world’s response to the climate crisis. The film follows Barbados’s bold challenge to the architecture of international development finance: institutions built for a different era, ill-equipped to serve nations whose debt spirals every time a hurricane hits or sea levels rise. At its center is the Bridgetown Initiative, championed by Prime Minister Mia Mottley — a proposal that has reframed the global conversation on climate finance and drawn the attention of world leaders and economists.

Runtime: 25 minutes
Format: Documentary short
Production: ODI Global | Twenty Twenty Studios | Merk Films

Awards and honours

• Winner Best Documentary Short, Albany Film Fest, 2023
• Official Selection, Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards, 2024
• Official Selection, Green Screen Environmental Film Festival, 2024
• Semi Finalist, San Francisco Arthouse Short Festival, 2024

About “The State of SIDS Report 2026”

The State of SIDS Report, produced by the RESI, brings together insights from policymakers, practitioners and researchers to provide a holistic picture of life and development across Small Island Developing States. At a time when climate change, economic uncertainty and environmental degradation are placing increasing strain on island communities, the report offers an evidence-based assessment of the risks, priorities and opportunities facing SIDS today.

Structured around key themes including economic development, social inclusion, infrastructure and energy, environmental sustainability, and climate adaptation, the report serves as a resource for governments, development partners and civil society organisations. It highlights both the unique vulnerabilities of small islands and the innovation, leadership and resilience demonstrated by island communities in responding to complex and interconnected challenges.

The findings underscore the importance of sustained international cooperation and tailored support for SIDS. As countries on the front lines of climate impacts, small island states offer valuable lessons for the global community on adaptation, resilience and sustainable development. Understanding their experiences is essential not only for advancing island priorities, but also for informing responses to some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today.

Links

• ODI Resilient and sustainable islands