Barbados Prime Minister and CARICOM Chair Mia Amor Mottley has been honoured with the 2025 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, recognizing her global leadership in climate action and policy reform.
The award, presented on February 4, is named after Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates.
The award committee highlighted Mottley’s significant contributions to climate advocacy, particularly noting her launch of the Bridgetown Initiative in 2022. This groundbreaking proposal calls for fundamental reforms to global financial systems to address climate inequality and support vulnerable nations.
Under Mottley’s leadership, Barbados has set ambitious environmental goals, including a commitment to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2030. Her administration has prioritized investments in solar, wind, and other clean energy sources to reduce the Caribbean nation’s dependence on fossil fuels.
She has also pioneered innovative financial solutions, such as debt-for-climate swaps, which allow countries to redirect national debt payments toward climate resilience projects.
In her acceptance speech, Mottley emphasized the importance of long-term vision and intergenerational responsibility. “It is our duty to hold on, it is our duty to press on, it is our duty to take the long, deep breaths,” she stated. “But it is our responsibility always to recognize that we must make history trend in the right direction; not for us who have lived life, and a lot of it already, but for the young ones who now must have that opportunity to appreciate the dignity of life.”
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity celebrates individuals and organizations who make outstanding contributions to human progress and peaceful coexistence.
