Blog archives
-
2020: the year to get money where it matters
20 January 2020More new initiatives, such as the Global Commission on Adaptation’s Locally Led Adaptation Action Track, are beginning to recognise the critical role of poor and marginalised people in tackling the climate emergency. From the Gobeshona conference, Andrew Norton and Saleemul Huq explain why a reimagined climate finance system that gets money into the hands of those people must be high on the 2020 ‘super year’ agenda
-
How can we incorporate local knowledge into climate planning and policy? …Maps!
17 January 2020In Kenya, participatory mapping makes it possible for indigenous knowledge to be included in planning and policy where for too long it was excluded, showing technology can bring people’s voices to power
-
The world's 100 largest cities from 1800 to 2020, and beyond
16 January 2020In the first of a new blog series, IIED senior fellow David Satterthwaite looks at the world’s 100 largest cities, and how their changing distribution reflects social, political and economic shifts across the globe
-
Scrap devastating fishing subsidies to help save the ocean and climate
15 January 2020The World Trade Organization resumed talks on fishing subsidies this week. Originally, it committed that by the end of 2019 it would prohibit the subsidies that are causing overfishing and damaging the life of the ocean. But despite the urgency, it failed to meet this deadline. This has significant implications for life in the ocean, the health and livelihoods of poor coastal communities in developing countries and climate change
-
COP25 policy and activism: we deserved better
13 January 2020In the first of a new series considering the important role social movements play in prompting climate action and protecting nature, Sejal Patel reflects on COP25, both as a researcher seeking to influence policy and as an individual passionate about climate justice
-
COP25: the morning after
13 January 2020Ahead of this week's IIED-hosted event discussing what COP25 outcomes mean for the climate crisis, Subhi Barakat highlights stepping stones for more ambitious climate action that emerged from these negotiations, where delays and denial frustrated progress
-
Haiti earthquake 10 years on – a new chapter in disaster response
12 January 2020A decade after the devastating Haiti earthquake, Lucy Earle reflects on the humanitarian response to the tragedy and its urban setting – and the lessons that have been learned for disaster response
-
We need more than business as usual, to leave no one behind
10 January 2020In the latest blog in our series exploring how business and investors can contribute to achieving the SDGs, Rijit Sengupta discusses the challenges and opportunities for businesses in India seeking to raise the bar on sustainability
-
The champions helping communities make better food choices
8 January 2020In Jember, Indonesia, children and young people are bearing the brunt of unhealthy eating habits. Isnatul Mu'allifin explains how this new generation is using data – gathered with and by the community – to drive tangible, positive change in people’s diets
-
IIED's best of 2019: videos
6 January 2020Video continues to be a powerful and engaging way to communicate sustainable development issues. We uploaded more than 60 videos to our YouTube channel during 2019, ranging from animations and interviews with our experts, to speeches and webinars. Matt Wright showcases 10 ways video helped us deliver research and information
-
How can we avoid another ‘lost decade’ in the climate fight?
6 January 2020As 2020 begins, IIED director Andrew Norton considers what it will take to galvanise meaningful action on climate change against a ticking clock and political reticence
-
Climate change is advancing in Nigeria: we can’t keep running
17 December 2019Youth-led climate strikes across the world have injected remarkable momentum into demands for climate action. But according to guest blogger Ridwan Bello, if young people in Nigeria are to join this global push, they need more knowledge about the causes and impacts of climate change
-
Nature-based solutions to climate change: stories from Chile
12 December 2019The last-minute decision to shift the location of the UN climate negotiations from Santiago to Madrid saw committed multilateralism at work; despite the logistical challenges, world leaders have pressed ahead with these crucial talks in Spain. While the climate spotlight has moved continents, Xiaoting Hou-Jones shares stories from Chile on how nature can support adaptation efforts
-
Ten reasons why we have to rewrite the sustainability rule book, and now
8 December 2019Companies are lagging behind when it comes to action on climate change. Mike Barry shares his tips on becoming the sustainable business leaders of tomorrow
-
Planning for reality in one of Nairobi’s largest ‘slums’
4 December 2019High levels of participation and a readiness to reconsider conventional approaches have led to promising plans to upgrade the Mukuru informal settlement in Nairobi
-
Politics at play at the UN climate talks? The LDCs don’t have time for games
4 December 2019There’s one year left before countries are formally held to account to their pledges under the Paris Agreement. From the COP25 climate talks in Madrid, Gabrielle Swaby sets out what the least developed countries – the poorest nations with most at stake – need from these crucial negotiations
-
Acting on the planetary emergency
29 November 2019With evidence of grave ecological and social crises mounting, director Andrew Norton considers the scale and shape of the challenges ahead and how IIED can step up action to meet them
-
Learning together boosts confidence and better communications
22 November 2019What is the long-term impact of Communications Learning Week – IIED's workshop for people working on communications in the global South? Rosalind Goodrich heard how it impacted a 2018 participant
-
The million-dollar question: how do I know my comms is working?
20 November 2019How can you tell if your communications activity is adding strategic value and not just adding to the noise? Liz Carlile has some answers
-
When investors go green
18 November 2019Pernille Holtedahl unpacks the growing appetite for green bonds and suggests this is a movement driven by the broader public – not just business
-
Information value chains – from data to research communication
15 November 2019What’s needed to sustain the flow of information from field data to policy communication? Rosalind Goodrich reports from a meeting in Durban that considered how to get biodiversity information to the heart of government decision-making
-
Who’s listening? Community voices on illegal wildlife trade
6 November 2019To effectively fight poaching and illegal wildlife trade (IWT), governments, NGOs and their partners across Latin America must listen to, engage with and provide incentives for the communities that live alongside wildlife
-
Towards better assessment of adaptation results
31 October 2019How can countries align their climate adaptation assessment mechanisms with other frameworks? Barry Smith highlights opportunities for achieving effective adaptation monitoring and evaluation
-
Strengthening development in the face of the climate crisis and environmental destruction
31 October 2019The climate emergency is not always a priority in development agencies’ planning. OECD’s new report outlines five steps they can take to integrate environmental protection into their programming
-
Resettlement from large dams – what have we learned?
30 October 2019Millions of people are displaced by large dams around the world. How can researchers help safeguard against the long-term trauma of resettlement?