After experiencing the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria in 2017, the Caribbean island of Dominica chose to take radical action in the face of climate change: to become the first climate resilience nation in the world. Five years later, they have the plan to make this vision a reality.

The Climate Blueprint: Dominica documentary – presented and co-produced by ODI Senior Research Fellow Emily Wilkinson alongside Director and Producer Sarah Howard – explores what it really means for a small island in the Caribbean to become climate-resilient while still reeling from the impacts of colonialism, slavery, natural resource extraction and environmental degradation. It imagines what a resilient future could look like, and how Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can be a model and resource for the rest of the world on climate ambition and resilient design.

On 4 December, an in-person screening of the documentary will take place on the Island of Hope stage at COP28 in Dubai. The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the documentary's Director and Producer Sarah Howard (Twenty Twenty Studios) and Francine Baron, CEO of the Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD)

Attending COP28 in person?

The Island of Hope stage, brought to you by Climate Action and Island Innovation, will run from 4–8 December. The stage will bring together key actors from SIDS, climate vulnerable regions, donors, investors, and the private sector to accelerate climate adaptation and resilience through capacity building, problem-solving and networking. COP28 attendees can register for the Island of Hope stage and the Climate Blueprint: Dominica screening here.

Following along virtually? Or interested in keeping up to date with the Small Island Developing States news at COP28?

Island Voices @COP28 is a free virtual space through which anyone can access key insights and developments related to remote, rural and island communities during COP28 – whether you are attending the conference in person or following along virtually. Registrants will receive daily bulletins packed with news and content related to island communities, access to interviews with stakeholders at COP28, live updates from the conference, as well as access to the agenda. Those attending in person will be also be invited to the Island of Hope stage. Register for the virtual space here.

Ahead of COP28, ODI has partnered with Island Innovation to support the 'Island Voices @COP28' virtual platform and Island of Hope.