From Disaster Response to Fiscal Strategy: Climate Change Inclusion in Economic Planning in Small Island Developing States (SIDS); a Barbadian Case Study

Abstract

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Barbados face a structural economic paradox: their strive for economic growth whilst facing the constant underdevelopment threat of climate induced events. SIDS economies are acutely exposed to climate-driven shocks, yet their fiscal frameworks have historically been designed to respond to those shocks rather than to anticipate and absorb them. This article examines Barbados's transition from a reactive disaster response model towards a proactive climate-fiscal integration strategy, applying the Vulnerability and Resilience Framework (VRF) as its primary analytical lens. Drawing on secondary sources, including national economic strategies, international programme assessments, IPCC reports, and comparative SIDS policy analyses, the article proceeds in three stages.