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Time Magazine
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley on Building Bridges Toward a Better Climate Future
Barbados may be a small country in size and population, but Prime Minister Mia Mottley has seen that the Caribbean nation plays a big role in the fight against the climate crisis. In her speech at the 2025 TIME Earth Awards in Manhattan on April 23, Mottley pointed to the late Pope Francis, who 'remained forthright in stating what was necessary for us at the personal level, but also the level of the planet Earth: we have to work to save the planet.' 'He said clearly that we need a conversation which includes everyone, not some of us, but everyone, since the environmental challenge that we are undergoing and its human roots concern and affect us all.' Mottley, who became the first female Prime Minister of Barbados in 2018, isn't afraid to pave the way. She has implemented a plan to phase out fossil fuels and transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030. Mottley is clear about the contentious political climate that affects environmental action. 'We are at an awkward stage in the world's development,' Mottley said. 'When you hear companies and financial institutions that a year ago were still promoting the importance of climate finance all of a sudden say they don't need it and they don't believe in it anymore, you begin to wonder if this is real.' But she's also clear-eyed about what's at stake, including the fact that the historically largest polluters are often the richest nations yet don't bear the brunt of the climate crisis' impacts. Rather, less developed countries in the Global South, like Barbados, which faces rising sea levels and more frequent storms, often do. Mottley launched the Bridgetown Initiative at COP26 in 2021, as a plan to push rich countries to support developing nations in adapting to climate change by aiming to mobilize trillions of dollars in green investments. 'If we don't get this equation correct, it is going to destabilize our access to food and water, our access to security,' she said. Part of the key, she said, is in finding the 'love language' that makes conversations between opposing sides—climate activists and climate deniers—possible. 'We're not going to win all the battles in the current geopolitical climate, but we can win a battle where there is common purpose.' Mottley implored businesses and individuals to eschew apathy and indifference—and for world leaders to join in on the conversation around the climate crisis, regardless of political differences. 'The truth is that if we look back at history, we know that history doesn't move in a straight line, but it is important that we keep the trajectory and the direction moving in the right way,' Mottley said. 'There are people whose very existence depends on us finding ways of building bridges through this difficult and challenging time.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mia Mottley Accepts 2025 TIME Earth Award
Mia Mottley on Sept. 27, 2024. Credit - Li Rui—Xinhua/Getty Images Barbados may be a small country in size and population, but Prime Minister Mia Mottley has seen that the Caribbean nation plays a big role in the fight against the climate crisis. In her speech at the 2025 TIME Earth Awards in Manhattan on April 23, Mottley pointed to the late Pope Francis, who 'remained forthright in stating what was necessary for us at the personal level, but also the level of the planet Earth: we have to work to save the planet.' 'He said clearly that we need a conversation which includes everyone, not some of us, but everyone, since the environmental challenge that we are undergoing and its human roots concern and affect us all.' Mottley, who became the first female Prime Minister of Barbados in 2018, isn't afraid to pave the way. She has implemented a plan to phase out fossil fuels and transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030. Mottley is clear about the contentious political climate that affects environmental action. 'We are at an awkward stage in the world's development,' Mottley said. 'When you hear companies and financial institutions that a year ago were still promoting the importance of climate finance all of a sudden say they don't need it and they don't believe in it anymore, you begin to wonder if this is real.' But she's also clear-eyed about what's at stake, including the fact that the historically largest polluters are often the richest nations yet don't bear the brunt of the climate crisis' impacts. Rather, less developed countries in the Global South, like Barbados, which faces rising sea levels and more frequent storms, often do. Mottley launched the Bridgetown Initiative at COP26 in 2021, as a plan to push rich countries to support developing nations in adapting to climate change by aiming to mobilize trillions of dollars in green investments. 'If we don't get this equation correct, it is going to destabilize our access to food and water, our access to security,' she said. Part of the key, she said, is in finding the 'love language' that makes conversations between opposing sides—climate activists and climate deniers—possible. 'We're not going to win all the battles in the current geopolitical climate, but we can win a battle where there is common purpose.' Mottley implored businesses and individuals to eschew apathy and indifference—and for world leaders to join in on the conversation around the climate crisis, regardless of political differences. 'The truth is that if we look back at history, we know that history doesn't move in a straight line, but it is important that we keep the trajectory and the direction moving in the right way,' Mottley said. 'There are people whose very existence depends on us finding ways of building bridges through this difficult and challenging time.' TIME Earth Awards was presented by Official Timepiece Rolex and Galvanize Climate Solutions. Contact us at letters@
Bloomberg
13-03-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Barbados' Leader Offers Climate Pragmatism From a Sinking Island
In the time since she became Prime Minister of Barbados in 2018, Mia Mottley has become known as a moral force for action on climate change. The Bridgetown Initiative, which she launched at COP26 in 2021, transformed the conversation around climate finance – pushing rich nations to do more to support developing countries struggling with the impact of climate change.
Bloomberg
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Zero: How Developing Countries Keep Acting on Climate
In the time since she became Prime Minister of Barbados in 2018, Mia Mottley has become known as a moral force for action on climate change. The Bridgetown Initiative, which she launched at COP26 in 2021, transformed the conversation around climate finance – pushing rich nations to do more to support developing countries struggling with the impact of climate change. But as the US retreats from climate action, her bold vision faces new challenges. At the Sustainable Energy for All Global Forum in Barbados, she tells Akshat Rathi why she remains optimistic, and she spoke about the role of pragmatism in tackling the climate challenge.
Observer
18-02-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Climate action demands global fraternity
The existential threat of the climate crisis casts a long shadow over our planet. Its effects are not equally distributed: vulnerable countries, particularly small island developing states (SIDS) like mine, are on the front lines. We must contend with rising sea levels, more frequent and intense extreme weather events, and the destruction of our livelihoods. To address these challenges and strengthen the resilience of our people and systems, many leaders, including me, have had to reshape policies and reconceive the relationship between government and the governed. While sea-level rise could directly affect 250 million people by the end of this century, it is already a lived reality for tens of millions in low-lying coastal countries and SIDS. Elsewhere, people are plagued by prolonged droughts and fires. These forces are putting our territories, economies, and very existence at risk, and countering them requires not only urgent action, but also a fundamental shift in our global consciousness – a recognition of our shared humanity and intertwined fate. Simply put, this crisis demands global solidarity. As a 2025 honoree of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, I believe that recognizing our responsibility to care for one another is an essential element of the climate response and as important as scientific, technological, financial, and diplomatic measures. Just as a family supports its most vulnerable members, so, too, must the global community rally around those countries bearing the brunt of a crisis they did little to create. As it stands, the global financial architecture is ill-equipped to address the climate crisis. It was designed for a different era that did not contemplate the interconnectedness of our economies and ecosystems or the dangers of global warming. The Bretton Woods institutions, for example, were established more than 80 years ago to help European economies recover from World War II. But the unprecedented scale and urgency of the climate crisis requires a new approach to unlock the financing that developing countries need for mitigation and adaptation. The system must be reformed to make sustainable development, climate resilience, and equitable access to finance its top priorities. This is not charity; it is an investment in our collective future. When some people are left to die, all of humanity – present and future – will eventually suffer. The Bridgetown Initiative, which many vulnerable countries have championed, calls for multilateral development banks to expand their lending capacity and to ensure that their risk-assessment frameworks reflect the realities of climate vulnerability. It also advocates increased concessional finance, recognising that grants and low-interest loans are essential for countries struggling to cope with the climate emergency. And the initiative proposes innovative mechanisms like debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps, offering a path to debt relief while generating the financial resources vulnerable countries need to take ownership of their climate transitions and build more resilient economies and societies. But finance alone is not enough. A paradigm shift is needed in how we understand development, moving from the narrow pursuit of GDP growth to a more holistic approach that values social justice, environmental sustainability, and human well-being. This requires a fundamental rethink of our economic models. Infinite growth on a finite planet is simply not possible. We must embrace a circular economy that improves resource efficiency, minimises waste, and promotes sustainable consumption. Such a shift ultimately hinges on global fraternity. We must recognise that, in an interconnected world, our actions have consequences for others, and that protecting our planet is a shared responsibility. That means equitably distributing the burden of climate change, so that those who have contributed the least to the problem do not suffer its worst effects. Leading a small island country like Barbados has taught me valuable lessons about the power of community and resilience, as well as the importance of long-term vision. We have learned the hard way how to adapt to changing climate conditions and innovate in the face of adversity. And we have come to realize the value of empowering communities to take ownership of adaptation efforts, and of nature-based solutions in building resilience. These lessons, born of necessity, are not unique to Barbados; they can guide all countries, regardless of size or wealth, towards a more sustainable future. I have often said that the world looks to SIDS for leadership on the climate crisis not because we are rich or powerful, but because we have no choice but to lead. The unavoidable truth is that we can no longer stand alone: everyone must join the fight to safeguard the planet for generations to come. More than an environmental issue, the climate crisis is a global challenge that demands a collective response. We cannot afford to be divided by national borders, political ideologies, or economic interests. This is a profound test of our shared humanity, and we will need global solidarity – ordinary people taking action every day – to pass it. @Project Syndicate, 2025 The writer is Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Barbados and a 2025 honoree of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
