
Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)
RESI is a global advisory network based at ODI, working with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their partners to frame policy problems, influence international institutions and find solutions to growing sustainability challenges in small islands. RESI aims to improve the conditions under which SIDS can achieve financial sustainability, environmental justice, international alliances and equitable societies.
RESI Directors
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Emily Wilkinson
Senior Research Fellow
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Courtney Lindsay
Senior Research Officer
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George Carter
Research Fellow in Geopolitics and Regionalism at the Department of Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University
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Michelle Scobie
Senior lecturer and researcher, Institute of International Relations at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine
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Jack Corbett
Professor of Politics at the University of Southampton
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Rachid Bouhia
Economic Affairs Officer, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
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Matthew Bishop
Senior lecturer in International Politics at the University of Sheffield
Insights on Small Island Developing States
In this blog series, RESI Directors examine the particular challenges facing Small Island Developing States. They highlight opportunities for creating more favourable international conditions for their resilience and sustainable development.

RESI Reports
RESI Podcasts

Think Change episode 14: climate loss and damage – who should pay?
Caribbean Comeback
How Caribbean countries are recovering from hurricanes and volcanic crises, adapting to climate change, and producing lessons for Covid-19 recovery around the world.
This podcast is hosted by Jamaican journalist Paula-Anne Porter Jones, in conversation with co-directors of the Caribbean Resilience and Recovery Knowledge Network (CRRKN) Emily Wilkinson from ODI, and Donovan Campbell from The University of the West Indies.

RESI Events
Upcoming | Climate Justice and the Role of International Law
In November 2022, Vanuatu published a draft UN resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on states’ legal obligation for climate action, and the consequences of causing harm. While ICJ, which is the UN’s main judiciary arm, has no binding authority, it could strengthen vulnerable countries’ position in international negotiations.
This online event, hosted by RESI, will bring legal, human rights, climate change and international development specialists together to discuss this and other multilateral initiatives, as well as lessons from national climate litigation.

Small island nations call for deep reform of climate finance
The Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout have been disastrous for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), which were already highly vulnerable to climate change and other shocks and stresses. A policy roundtable at ODI on 28 July 2021, convened by Courtenay Rattray, High Representative, UNOHRLLS, and Dr Emily Wilkinson, Senior Research Fellow, ODI, examined SIDS’ special case for finance and debt relief – and highlighted specific action areas that international donors and financial institutions could take to support SIDS, on the road to COP26 in Glasgow and beyond.

At this online event, climate and trade negotiators discussed what’s on the negotiating table at COP26, the trade related implications and how development friendly outcomes can be secured.

RESI Affiliates
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Neil Allan
Environmental justice (University of Bristol)
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Bateteba Aselu
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Adam Baird
Equitable societies
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Jon Barnett
Environmental justice
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Hillary Briffa
Environmental justice, International alliances
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Gareth Byatt
International alliances, Equitable societies
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Jessica Byron-Reid
International alliances, Equitable societies
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Liam Campling
Environmental justice, International alliances
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Peter Clegg
Financial stability, International alliances
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John Cox
Equitable societies
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Federico Davila
Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Mairi Dupar
Senior Technical Advisor
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Aidan Farrell
Environmental justice
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Michel Frojmovic
Equitable societies
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Carla Gomes
Environmental justice
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Eve Hayes de Kalaf
Financial stability, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Sergio Jarillo
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Seu'ula Johansson-Fua
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Jodie Keane
Senior Research Fellow
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Ilan Kelman
Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Dylan Kerrigan
Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Tom Long
International alliances
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José Lopes
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Cathryn MacCallum
Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Isabella Massa
Financial stability, Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Indianna Minto-Coy
Financial stability, Environmental justice
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Stefano Moncada
Financial stability, Environmental justice
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Caroline Morris
Equitable societies
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Wazim Mowla
Financial stability, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Patrick Nunn
Environmental justice
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Susan Park
Financial stability, Environmental justice
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Adom Philogene Heron
Environmental justice
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Stephen Pratt
Equitable societies
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Ben Richardson
International alliances
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Clare Richardson-Barlow
Financial stability, Environmental justice
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Michai Robertson
Research Associate [Financial stability, Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies]
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Edalina Sanches
Equitable societies
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Kalim Shah
Environmental justice, International alliances
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Mimi Sheller
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Emilka Skrzypek
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Andrew Spencer
Environmental justice, Equitable societies
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Tearinaki Patiale Tanielu
Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Baldur Thorhallsson
International alliances
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Milla Vaha
Environmental justice, International alliances, Equitable societies
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Elissa Waters
Equitable societies
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Lena Weingärtner
Research Associate
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Matthew David Wilson
Environmental justice
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Zhang Xiaotong
International alliances
In the media
Why a chain of tiny Pacific islands wants an international court opinion on responsibility for the climate crisis
Vanuatu and its partners are pursuing a ground-breaking diplomatic strategy and others will likely follow.

The Caribbean must think carefully about how and where to ‘build back better’ after the hurricanes of 2017
"Building back better” to create more resilient societies is a laudable goal, but every country is different and there are no quick fixes.
Opinion: To finance resilience in small states, governments and development partners must take some risks
After Hurricane Maria swept through Dominica in 2017, causing extensive damage to crops, livestock, and 90% of homes, and generating losses of 226% of its gross domestic product — this island of some 70,000 people set out a bold vision to become the world’s first climate-resilient nation