An Island Nation’s Fight for Climate Justice

Trapped between debt and disaster.

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story July 29, 2022 Photograph by Erika Larsen/Redux, for The New York Times. In poor nations around the world, rising sovereign debt is becoming a hidden but decisive aspect of the climate crisis. This is particularly true in Caribbean countries. They carry more debt, relative to the size of their economies, than almost anywhere else on the planet, a burden that makes it virtually impossible for them to pay for the infrastructure necessary to protect them from the climate disruptions to come. Mia Mottley, the first woman to lead Barbados, is fighting to end this fiscal spiral. In May 2018, she made her pitch to Christine Lagarde, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund. Barbados, she said, was going to default on the debt it owed to private banks and investors. She wanted Lagarde's support in persuading them to renegotiate its terms. Mottley's goal was to reduce Barbados's total debt load while avoiding some typical austerity measures. She needed to persuade her creditors to take what's known as "a haircut," reducing what they were owed. But Mottley didn't just want a discount on her debts. She wanted the one thing she'd learned would begin to make her public debt resilient to the shocks of climate change — a "hurricane clause" building in relief if the country was hit by a major storm. Read our cover story, produced in partnership with ProPublica, on how Barbados took on international finance — and stood up for climate justice. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT Erika Larsen/Redux, for The New York Times The Barbados Rebellion: An Island Nation's Fight for Climate Justice The Caribbean is trapped between crushing debt and a climate disaster caused by rich nations. Prime Minister Mia Mottley is battling for a fairer system. By Abrahm Lustgarten Subscribe Today We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times with this special offer. MORE FROM THE MAGAZINE Djeneba Aduayom for The New York Times The Gag Is: Keke Palmer Is a Movie Star With a face that launched a thousand GIFs, the actress is bringing her expressive range to "Nope," Jordan Peele's latest social thriller. By Niela Orr Jocelyn Lee for The New York Times Why Was Joshua Held for More Than Two Years for Someone Else's Crimes? Honolulu incarcerated the wrong man for more than two years — a miscarriage of justice that shows the cruel inadequacy of America's approach to mental health. By Robert Kolker Stay in touch: Follow us on Twitter (@NYTmag) or check us out on Instagram. Appreciated this email? Forward it to a friend and help us grow. Loved a story? Hated it? Write us a letter at magazine@nytimes.com. Did a friend forward this to you? Sign up here to get the magazine newsletter. Listen to narrated versions of our articles every week. Download Audm for iPhone or Android. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The New York Times Magazine from The New York Times. To stop receiving these emails, unsubscribe or manage your email preferences. Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app Connect with us on: Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018