Small Islands Big Picture

The maritime regions in which SIDS are located have long been considered ‘zones’ or ‘oceans of peace’. But geopolitical tension is increasingly leading to military forms of conflict that are potentially calling this into question. But what does it mean to be a zone of peace? Have island regions always been peaceful? And what can small states do to resist the military designs of great powers?In this episode, Emily and Matt speak to a number of experts with their own distinctive take on these questions. We hear from Patrick Kaiku from Papua New Guinea in “Island Voices”. In our “Explainer”, we are joined by Arthur Snell from the UK, host of the Behind the Lines podcast and author of an important new book, Elemental. Then, we meet three guests – Sue Farran, a Pacific expert based in the UK, Richard Lynch from Trinidad, and Jacqueline Laguardia-Martinez from Cuba – to explore how different regions fit into this evolving geopolitical picture. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions”, Matt and Emily ask whether the regions in which SIDS are based were ever truly zones of peace in the first place.Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldPatrick Kaiku | Director of Policy, Registry of Political Parties, Papua New GuineaArthur Snell | Geopolitics expert, author and former diplomatSue Farran | Professor of Law at Newcastle UniversityJacqueline Laguardia-Martinez | Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of the West IndiesRichard Lynch | CEO at Fundai Consulting and former Director of International Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of National Security Resources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)RESI Book | Sustaining Development in Small Islands: Climate Change, Geopolitical Security and the Permissive Liberal OrderMajor RESI Report | The State of SIDS 2026: Defending the Special CaseRESI Report | How SIDS view their development partnersRESI Paper | Geopolitical competition, bilateral aid, and the collective interests of SIDSPatrick’s article | A Pacific “zone of peace” – what will it entail?Arthur’s podcast | Behind the Lines with Arthur SnellArthur’s book | Elemental: The New Geography of Climate Change and How We Survive ItSue’s university profile | Professor Sue FarranSue’s Ocean of Peace project | Pacific Ocean of PeaceJacqueline’s LinkedIn profile | Jacqueline Laguardia-MartinezJacqueline featured in The Guardian | Helping the US to depose MaduroRichard’s LinkedIn profile | Captain Richard LynchLISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 2026, RESI launched the first ever “State of SIDS” report, an extensive analysis of how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are responding to a rapidly changing global context in which the defence of their special case is more urgent than ever, but also potentially requires new ideas, innovations and arguments to support this action. The report was developed by a cross-regional team of almost 30 SIDS experts.  In this episode, which is the counterpart to Episode 24 on the SIDS Future Forum, Emily and Matt explore the report and its implications in depth. In “Island Voices”, we hear from Jabal Hassanali from the Global Island Partnership. Our RESI colleagues, Jack Corbett and Eliorah Malifa join us for the “Explainer”, to discuss the process of putting the report together. Then, in the “Big Picture”, some of the lead authors of the thematic chapters tell us what their key messages are. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions” Matt and Emily reflect on the overarching insights from the report and how they might shape preparations for the SIDS Future Forum and State of SIDS report in 2028. Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldJabal Hassanali | Strategy Manager, Global Island Partnership (GLISPA)Jack Corbett | RESI Director and Deputy Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Monash University, AustraliaEliorah Malifa | Lead editor and Senior Research Fellow at Monash University, AustraliaStefano Moncada | Director, Islands and Small States Institute at the University of MaltaPreeya Mohan | Professor at the University of the West Indies, TrinidadYvonne Underhill-Sem | Professor at the University of Auckland, New ZealandMerisa Thompson | Associate Professor at the University of Birmingham, UKViliame Kasanawaka | Director of ShipWrecked Lab, FijiKalim Shah | Associate Professor and Director of the Island Policy Lab at the University of Delaware, USAGail Hurley | RESI Director and Development Finance Expert Resources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)The Report | The State of SIDS 2026: Defending the Special CaseRESI Book | Sustaining Development in Small IslandsRESI Report | How SIDS view their development partnersTrailer for new RESI film | Climate Blueprint: BarbadosSIDS Future Forum 2026 | Opening session recording: navigating the nowSIDS Future Forum 2026 | State of SIDS Report Chapters 1 and 2 recordingSIDS Future Forum 2026 | State of SIDS Report Chapters 2 and 3 recordingSIDS Future Forum 2026 | Event homepage and resourcesSIDS Future Forum 2026 | Wilton Park Event ReportSIDS Future Forum 2024 | Shaping the Future of SIDS LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

African Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are sometimes overlooked in global debates that tend to be dominated by the Pacific and the Caribbean. Yet across Africa’s island states, substantial advances are being made in terms of regional collaboration, good governance, sustainable development, climate resilience and cultural protection. At the same time, the region faces distinctive challenges: vast distances separate African SIDS and their critical mass is limited relative to counterparts elsewhere.  In this episode, Emily and Matt are joined by Stefano Moncada from the University of Malta to speak to panel of experts – Paul Akiwumi from Ghana, Penda Choppy from Seychelles, Ramola Ramtohul from Mauritius, and Antonio Palazuelos Prieto from Cape Verde – about the exciting developments that are happening across African SIDS. They explore what is going on across the continent and why African island development matters to the wider story of small islands, highlighting lessons, successes and insights that can inform resilience and development efforts across the global community of islands.    Featuring: Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global Matthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield Stefano Moncada | Director, Islands and Small States Institute at the University of Malta Paul Akiwumi | Senior Fellow, London School of Economics and former Director of the UNCTAD Division for Africa, Least Developed Countries and Special Programmes Ramola Ramtohul | Associate Professor in Gender Studies and Sociology at the University of Mauritius Antonio Palazuelos Prieto | SIDS Expert at UN Economic Commission for Africa Penda Choppy | Director, Creole Language and Culture Research Institute at the University of Seychelles  Resources: Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) Stefano’s profile | University of Malta website Paul’s profile | Paul Akiwumi LinkedInUNCTAD’s work on productive capacities | SIDS PCI website Ramola’s profile | Ramola Ramtohul LinkedIn Ramola’s book | The Mauritian Paradox Antonio’s profile | Antonio Palazuelos LinkedIn Penda’s profile | University of Seychelles website A paper by Jack, our RESI Co-Director | African Exceptions LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have long been recognised by the United Nations as a “special case” for sustainable development. This reflects the fact that small islands across the Caribbean, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean and Atlantic regions face unique and intensifying challenges, including climate change, debt pressures, geopolitical uncertainty, and limited fiscal space.But in a rapidly shifting global system, that recognition is under increasing strain. How do small island states ensure their needs are still understood, prioritised and acted on?In this episode, we explore the key questions at the heart of that debate, drawing on insights from the SIDS Future Forum 2026, a space which brought over 50 experts together - SIDS diplomats, officials from international organisations, representatives of donor governments and researchers - to reflect on the future of the global SIDS agenda and the implementation of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS), the UN’s ten-year programme of action.In an extended version of our “Big Picture” segment, we hear reflections from senior SIDS representatives to the UN, including Tania Romualdo (Cabo Verde), Walton Webson (Antigua and Barbuda), Ali Naseer Mohamed (Maldives) and Nicholas Cox (Barbados), on what it will take to keep the “special case” relevant and credible in a world of sustained geopolitical upheaval. In “No Stupid Questions”, Matt and Emily explore some of the new ideas that emerged from the Future Forum, including why fresh evidence, insights and arguments are needed to defend the UN-recognised “special case” for sustainable development that SIDS have held since the first UN programme of action in the 1990s. LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldTania Romualdo | Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the UNWalton Webson | Permanent Representative of Antigua and Barbuda to the UNAli Naseer Mohamed | Permanent Representative of Maldives to the UNNicholas Cox | Deputy Permanent Representative of Barbados to the UN Resources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)RESI Book | Sustaining Development in Small IslandsRESI Report | How SIDS view their development partnersTrailer for new RESI film | Climate Blueprint: BarbadosSIDS Future Forum 2026 | Opening session recording: navigating the nowSIDS Future Forum 2026 | State of SIDS Report Chapters 1 and 2 recordingSIDS Future Forum 2026 | State of SIDS Report Chapters 2 and 3 recordingSIDS Future Forum 2026 | Event homepage and resourcesSIDS Future Forum 2026 | Wilton Park Event ReportSIDS Future Forum 2024 | Shaping the Future of SIDS Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small islands generally did far better during the pandemic than bigger (and often richer) countries with more complex health systems. In this episode, Emily and Matt ask: what have been the longer-term effects of Covid-19 more than five years on? Have lessons have been learned for the next shock? Where can we see both improvements and things to worry about in health provision and outcomes? We welcome two global public health experts for our “Explainer”. Sophie Harman tells us why we should worry about not only the decline of multilateral health governance, but also what might be replacing it. Simon Rushton talks us through some of the longer-term effects of the pandemic on the Global South. Then, in the Big Picture, we are joined by Roannie Ng Shiu from Samoa and Aviane Auguste from St Lucia to learn why SIDS did relatively so well in the pandemic but why more prosaic health challenges – from measles to dengue and non-communicable diseases like diabetes – are of greater immediate concern. Finally, in no stupid questions, Matt and Emily ask whether small size and islandness are actually secret weapons in helping SIDS to achieve better health outcomes. LISTENER SURVEY: To help us make Small Islands, Big Picture even better, we’ve put together a short audience survey and would love your input. You can find the survey at this link and your feedback will help us shape future episodes, topics, and guests. If you have a moment, please fill it out: it only takes a couple of minutes would mean a lot to us. Thanks for listening and supporting the show! Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldSophie Harman | Professor of International Politics, Queen Mary, University of LondonSimon Rushton | Professor of International Politics, University of SheffieldRoannie Ng Shiu | Director, Institute for Pacific and Global Health, University of AucklandAvianne Auguste | Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational health, McGill University Resources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)Sophie’s profile | Professor Sophie HarmanSophie’s film | PiliSophie’s book | Sick of it: the global fight for women’s healthSimon’s profile | Professor Simon RushtonSimon’s award | ESRC Impact Prize: Improbable DialoguesSimon & Sophie’s recent Lancet article | Global health partnerships for a post-2030 agendaRoannie’s profile | Dr Roannie Ng ShiuRoannie’s Lancet article | The 2024 small island developing states report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate changeAviane’s profile | Dr Aviane AugusteA public lecture by Aviane | Improving health outcomes in small islandsAn important Lancet piece | SIDS standing together on NCDs and mental health Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Emily, Matt and the other RESI Directors look back on everything that happened in the world of small islands during 2025, discussing hot topics, highlights and lowlights while looking forward to 2026 will bring. The team also discusses how their own policy and research has shaped conversations around different SIDS agendas - from debt and oceans to geopolitics and climate justice.    NB: Hurricane Melissa cast a very long shadow over the final months of 2025 and will continue to do so for Jamaicans as they rebuild their country. If you would like to support those efforts, you can make a donation to the government’s relief fund here.  Featuring:o   Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Globalo   Matthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffieldo   Courtney Lindsay | RESI Director and Senior Research Officer at ODI Globalo   Gail Hurley | RESI Director and Development Finance Experto   George Carter | RESI Director and Deputy Head of Department of Pacific Affairs/Director of Pacific Institute, Australian National Universityo   Jack Corbett | RESI Director and Head of School of Social Sciences, Monash Universityo   Rachid Bouiha | RESI Director and Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)Resources:o   Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)o   Our RESI book | Sustaining Development in Small Islandso   Courtney’s AI report | Engines of Growth: Building Knowledge Economies in SIDSo   Another AI blog | Why SIDS need to act quickly on AIo   The documentary mentioned by Courtney | Life and Debto   Hurricane Melissa op-ed | Climate disasters will send many countries into a debt spiral – but there’s a way out  o   Matt and Courtney’s Jamica debt report | Breaking the Cycle of Debt in Jamaicao   The full RESI Debt Project (multiple papers) | Breaking the Cycle of Debt in SIDSo   Our Global Voices piece from last year | Why small islands need their own Marshall Plano   Gail and Emily’s work on debt service costs | Tackling the cost of capital in small vulnerable nationso   Gail and Emily’s work on oceans | Turning the tide: enhancing ocean equity for SIDSo   Emily’s op-ed on UN climate negotiations | Why small climate-vulnerable island states punch well above their weight in UN climate talkso   Emily’s piece on climate justice | Tides of justice: how SIDS are redefining the fight against climate changeo   Our work on capacity building | Fit for size: rethinking capacity strengthening in SIDSo   Our work on the FfD4 process | Leveraging the Sevilla Commitment in favour of SIDSo   Emily’s work on anticipatory action finance | Bracing for Impact: a Caribbean blueprinto   Our work on geopolitical competition | Geopolitical competition, bilateral aid, and the collective interests of SIDSo   Short trailer for Emily’s new documentary | Climate Blueprint: Barbadoso   George’s work on oceanic diplomacy | Reasserting indigenous pathwayso   Rachid’s work on productive capacities | Stronger and greener productive capacities for just transitions in Caribbean SIDSo   SIDS Future Forum 2026 | Wilton Park Websiteo   UN SIDS Partnership Awards 2025 | Partnership Brief Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From momentum against fossil fuels to fires breaking out on site, COP30 was anything but routine. Held just outside Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and framed as the ‘COP of implementation’, the talks delivered a mix of drama, hard-won progress, and unfinished business. But where did small islands feature in the final decisions, and will those outcomes lead to real change?In this episode, Matt and Emily are joined by COP30 attendees—including AOSIS’ Climate Change Advisor and Fiji’s Chief Negotiator—to take listeners inside the negotiating rooms. They unpack the pressures of COP’s relentless schedule, reflect on small island wins and sticking points, and explore why keeping COP climate negotiations on the global agenda is key for small islands’ survival. As attention turns to COP31, the conversation looks ahead to how small islands can build alliances and sharpen their strategy in the race to keep global temperatures under 1.5 degrees.Episode features:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldSimon Stiell | Executive Secretary of the UNFCCCSoleil Parkinson | Conservationist and COP30 Youth Ambassador, Cayman IslandsTiffany Van Ravenswaay | Climate Change Advisor for AOSISSivendra Michael | Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Government of FijiCarola Klöck | Associate Professor at Sciences-Po, ParisGeorge Carter | Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University, and RESI Co-DirectorResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)RESI at COP30 | https://odi.org/en/events/watch-live-from-cop30-the-world-film-premiere-of-climate-blueprint-barbadosRESI briefing paper: Keeping the International Court of Justice advisory opinion alive at COP30 and beyond.UN Climate Change | Simon Steill's closing speech at COP30The Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) Letter to the COP30 Presidency | https://www.aosis.org/aosis-letter-to-cop30-presidency/AOSIS NDC Report | Ahead of COP30, New NDC Synthesis Report Reveals Dangerous Delay on Global Climate ActionSDG News | Live at COP30: Fiji’s Chief Negotiator Sivendra Michael Warns Fossil Fuel Language Has Fallen Out of the MutiRão Text Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The seemingly unstoppable rise of “big data” and Artificial Intelligence is reshaping and destabilising the global economy. But where do small islands fit into this? Could digital technologies like AI level the playing field, or do they represent a new form of technocolonialism? Can Small Island Developing States (SIDS) embed them quickly enough to benefit from new economic opportunities, or are they likely to be left further behind? In this episode, Emily and Matt speak to a number of experts grappling with these kinds of questions. In our "Island Voices" segment Kunal Singh from Fiji talks about the impact of AI on climate finance. We then break down the issue with Preeya Mohan from Trinidad and Courtney Lindsay from Jamaica in our “Explainer”. Next, in the “Big Picture” we speak to Külli Sarapuu, from Estonia, and Donald Baldeosingh from Trinidad, two people who are grappling with the public policy implications of digitalisation. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions”, Emily and Matt ask whether the risks of AI are overstated by critics. Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldKunal Singh | Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Advisor, Pacific Community (SPC)Preeya Mohan | Senior Fellow, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West IndiesCourtney Lindsay | RESI Director and Senior Research Officer, ODI GlobalKülli Sarapuu | Associate Professor, Tallinn University of TechnologyDonald Baldeosingh | Founder, Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad and TobagoResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)Kunal’s LinkedIn page| Kunal SinghPreeya and Courtney’s report | Engines of Growth: Building Knowledge Economies in SIDSAnother blog they wrote with Emily | Why SIDS need to act quickly on AIPreeya’s university webpage | Dr Preeya MohanDonald’s CZITT webpage | Carbon Zero Institute of T&TKülli’s university webpage | Dr Külli SarapuuAn important UN report | Small Island Digital States Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In July 2025, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a unanimous advisory opinion affirming that states have legal obligations under international law to prevent environmental harm and uphold human rights while reducing emissions to stay within 1.5°C of warming. For Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this was a remarkable victory. But what are the political and legal implications, and how can big polluters be held to account? In this episode, Emily and Matt interview six people involved in the process to an offer a thorough expert account of what the ICJ opinion really means for SIDS. Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldOdo Tevi | Permanent Representative of Vanuatu to the United NationsShiv Shankar | Tuvalu Ambassador for Oceans and Climate Change, Special Envoy to The Commonwealth, and Permanent Representative to UNESCO and the UNFCCBryce Rudyk | Director, International Environmental Law Program, New York University and Senior Legal Advisor to the AOSIS ChairNadia Sánchez Castillo-Winckels | Founder and Director, Climate Legal ConsultingCoral Pasisi | Director of Climate Change and Sustainability, Pacific CommunityFrancesco Sindico | Professor International Law, University of Strathclyde, and Co-Director of C2LIResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)ICJ Opinion | Obligations of States in Respect of Climate ChangeEmily, Matt and Nadia’s op-ed | Why a chain of tiny Pacific islands wants an international court opinion on responsibility for the climate crisisOdo’s homepage | Ambassador Odo Tevi on LinkedInShiv’s homepage | Ambassador Shiv Shankar on LinkedInNadia’s homepage with links to readings | Nadia Sánchez Castillo-WinckelsBryce’s homepage with links to readings | Bryce Rudyk at NYUCoral’s homepage | Coral Pasisi at SPCFrancesco’s Book | Research Handbook on Climate Change LitigationC2LI Website | Climate Change Legal Initiative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are witnessing a boom in new forms of financing that generate both profit for investors and a “social return” for communities. But what is “impact investing”, and why do we need more of it to protect our oceans and support small islands?  Matt and Emily – with RESI colleague, Gail Hurley – reflect on the UN Oceans Conference in Nice, June 2025. We ask whether socially responsible investment can unlock new money for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and share powerful stories of islands and investors revolutionizing ocean protection through innovative financing.   In Island Voices, Karuna Rana from Mauritius explains why local solutions are key to overcoming investment “ticket size.” In the Explainer, Gail unpacks what impact investing is and why it matters. In the Big Picture, Yabanex Batista (Global Fund for Coral Reefs), Melissa Walsh (Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance), and Hervé Lallement-Moe (Government of French Polynesia) discuss impact investing and the implications of UNOC3. Finally, in No Stupid Questions, Matt, Emily, and Gail ask how impact investing can support SIDS’ policy priorities.  Featuring: Emily Wilkinson | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of Sheffield Gail Hurley | RESI Director and Development Finance Expert Karuna Rana | Director, Big Ocean States Initiative (BOSI) Yabanex Batista | Deputy Director, Global Fund for Coral Reefs, United Nations Capital Development FundMelissa Walsh Director | Director, Blue Finance & Scaling, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (ORRAA) Hervé Lallemant-Moe | Digital Economy Directorate, Government of French Polynesia   Resources: Programme page (RESI)UNOC Declaration | Our ocean, our future: united for urgent action RESI work on ocean equity | Turning the tide: enhancing ocean equity for SIDS Karuna’s profile |Karuna Rana on LinkedIn BOSI website | Big Ocean States Initiative Yabanex’s profile | Yabanex Batista on LinkedIn Melissa’s profile | Dr Melissa Walsh at OORRAA Hervé’s profile | Hervé Lallement-Moe on LinkedIn  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.