Small Islands Big Picture
Episodes
Will 2026 be an even bigger year for small islands?
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Drama and decisions: was COP30 a win for Small Islands?
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From momentum against fossil fuels to fires breaking out on site, COP30 was anything but routine. Held just outside Brazil’s Amazon rainforest and f...
Is AI a threat or an opportunity for small islands?
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The seemingly unstoppable rise of “big data” and Artificial Intelligence is reshaping and destabilising the global economy. But where do small isl...
What does the ICJ climate change decision mean for small islands?
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In July 2025, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) issued a unanimous advisory opinion affirming that states have legal obligations under internat...
Protecting our oceans: is impact investing the big ticket for small islands?
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 “i...
Narrating disaster: what’s it like to live through a hurricane or volcanic eruption?
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Disasters are a constant part of life on islands - but outsiders often just see the stats: storm categories, earthquake scales, eruption sizes. Behind...
Is gang-related violence becoming worse in small islands?
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Small states are among the most peaceful societies, rarely experiencing war and conflict. Yet, on a per capita basis, some - especially, but not exclu...
Navigating geopolitical upheaval: what does Trumpism 2.0 mean for SIDS?
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
President Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 signals an upheaval in global politics. ODI hosts, Emily and Matt, ask what this means for small...
Smelly seaweed: could Sargassum fuel the future?
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, many Caribbean countries have experienced a staggering influx of sargassum, a type of nuisance seaweed emanating from ...
Could a meaningful conversation on reparations support greater climate justice?
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Intellectuals and activists have long demanded reparations for the horrors of slavery and other colonial abuses. For Small Island Developing States, t...
How might the Bridgetown Initiative reshape the global financial architecture?
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 SID...
Uncharted waters: where do SIDS fit into the recent explosion in climate litigation?
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Since the Paris Agreement of 2015, legal action around climate change has grown. This takes many forms, from community groups and public bodies suing ...
What happened at SIDS4 in Antigua and Barbuda?
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In May 2024, the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) took place in Antigua, where leaders agreed the next ten-ye...
Demystifying the Blue Economy: should we call Small Island Developing States “Big Ocean States” instead?
27 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, the notion of the “Blue Economy” has gained traction in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) policy debates. Focusing on the oft...
Why are so many small states turning to Citizenship by Investment (CBI) schemes?
10 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Citizenship is traditionally granted by right – on the basis of birthplace or parentage – or acquired through naturalisation – on the basis of s...
Are changes in global shipping generating better connectivity for Small Island Developing States??
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are, by definition, highly dependent on shipping and other forms of connectivity. As geographically small land m...
Will the Fourth UN International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) generate ‘resilient prosperity’?
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Each decade since the mid-1990s, the United Nations has convened a high-level international summit – bringing together small-island governments, lar...
Who is responsible for high debt burdens in SIDS?
02 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of "Small Islands, Big Picture" explores debt in SIDS – a critical challenge with no easy solutions. Emily and Matt explain why many is...
Can we find solutions to climate change-induced sea-level rise?
28 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This episode of "Small Islands Big Picture" Emily and Matt discuss the problem of sea-level rise, the challenges it poses to sustainable developm...
What are the distinctive challenges faced by small non-sovereign islands?
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Emily and Matt discuss a special group of small islands: non-independent territories or "sub-national island jurisdictions" (SNIJs). ...
How can the UN Multidimensional Vulnerability Index help small island states?
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of "Small Islands, Big Picture", Emily and Matthew look at the United Nation's new Multidimensional Vulnerability Index (MVI), how it ...
Why do small islands matter?
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
“Small Islands, Big Picture” is a new podcast from The Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI) and ODI which will shine a spotlight on...