Insights

Our insights give our experts and partners from across the world the platform to provide insight into key events, updates on ongoing research, and share experiences from their work

A group of people on the edge of a mountain gather around a man making a presentation and holding a large sheet of white paper, with a spectacular mountain backdrop.

Insight

Achieving 30x30: the vital role of Indigenous and traditional territories, rights and governance

Barbara Lassen and Krystyna Swiderska
27 August 2026

Woman pumping water using from a well in Zambia.

Insight

Drought unmasks structural failures and systemic inequalities in Mazyopa informal settlement

Marcelle Mardon and Melanie Chirwa
25 August 2026

A long-range photo of a landscape showing tiered levels that denote mining in front of mountains.

Insight

Energy-defence-AI convergence spurs demand for critical minerals

Josefina Lehnen and Lorenzo Cotula
12 August 2026

Women farmers in a field, collecting and tending to crops.

Insight

Why nature finance and gender data are central to achieving the world’s biodiversity goals

Nicola Sorsby and Karen Wong Pérez
06 August 2026

The Sistema Agroflorestal Dendê - or palm oil agroforestry system in Tomé-Açu managed by Cooperativa Agrícola Mista de Tomé-Açu.

Insight

Trailblazing in Tomé Açu: inspiring a global agroforestry transition in northern Brazil

Duncan J Macqueen
03 August 2026

Two people wade through water to plant saplings.

Insight

Getting back on track: turning global biodiversity promises into fair and locally-led action by 2030

Nicola Sorsby and Barbara Lassen
27 July 2026

Image of grafitti of child crying on a building in Favela Metro-Mangueira. The buildings next to it are torn down.

Insight

Insight series

Read our series of insights and articles on key areas of our work

Countdown to COP15

A series of insights raising the profile of locally-led action on the road to and after the COP15 global biodiversity conference

Series

Social movements for climate justice

A series of insights and interviews exploring the vital role social movements play in prompting climate action and climate justice

Series

The transition to a predominantly urban world

A series of insights and interviews designed to share the experiences of community leaders, professionals, researchers and government from the global South

Series

What works for women’s land rights?

A series of insights looking at ways to strengthen women’s access to and control over land in Africa

Series

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Group of people sitting on the floor, discussing ideas and writing things down on A4 papers.

Dismantling structural racism and injustice: an update on our progress

Insight, 18 June 2026

People from the Youth Group at COP30 gathered and listening to someone speak off-camera.

The power of the process: why multilateral climate negotiations still matter

Insight, 03 June 2026

People walking on the streets on Karachi.

Are international financial institutions becoming disconnected from reality?

Insight, 29 May 2026

Person standing next to a printed out poster, pointing and speaking. Other people are gathered and listening.

A shared vision, clear actions and a growing community: the next 20 years of locally led adaptation starts now

Insight, 21 May 2026

Panel discussion at the First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels. Four speakers are sitting on chairs behind a table on a podium with a big blue screen behind while the audience is sitting on chairs and listening.

Santa Marta conference highlights legal barriers to the energy transition

Insight, 18 May 2026

People sit outside under a canopy behind tables with the words "reuse, recycle and reduce".

Youth strategies from informal settlements: harnessing civic media to drive change around urban governance and housing

Insight, 18 May 2026

Community members from Zambia gathered next to a tree, sitting down and discussing.

Advancing land-based investment governance: reflections on a collaborative technical support project

Insight, 05 May 2026

Karachi’s housing crisis is about inequality, not just infrastructure

Insight, 23 April 2026

Boat of fisherman returning to shore in Ghana

Rebuilding trade rules through WTO reform: what next for sustainable development?

Insight, 09 April 2026

People gathered at a table in a conference room, talking and gesticulating.

What to watch for across the multilateral climate funds landscape: key moments and leverage points

Insight, 25 March 2026

Woman is filling up bucket with drinking water from an outside tap.

The missing link in water stewardship: why gender equity is not an add-on

Insight, 22 March 2026

Two women are checking crops in a field, talking.

How LDCs and SIDS are building finance tools to take adaptation projects to scale

Insight, 19 March 2026

Image of informal settlement in Pakistan showing houses built very close together.

What I have learnt in 50 years of engagement with urban issues

Insight, 18 March 2026

Bright, small packets hang down from ropes in front of a partly destroyed building.

Three years on from the Antakya earthquake: reconnecting people to places

Insight, 18 February 2026

Group of community members gathered and sitting on the group, while one person is standing at the front, talking.

Living heritage approach leads to owner-driven, post-earthquake reconstruction in Gujarat, India

Insight, 02 February 2026

Indonesia’s nickel refining boom: lessons for other mineral-rich countries

Insight, 28 January 2026

Aerial photo of a busy street, packed with vehicles through a smoky haze and with flags flying above.

Anger issues and infrastructure in Karachi: why are we all so angry?

Insight, 21 January 2026

Woman standing in low water holding two mangroves plants, getting ready to plant them.

A shrinking pot: how can the LDC climate fund keep up with targets?

Insight, 16 January 2026

People gathered around the COP30 president, deliberating.

Putting pledges into practice: what did COP30 mean for the multilateral climate funds?

Insight, 12 December 2025

Woman worker in a stone quarry wearing a bright orange saree is making a phone call using a land line outside a building.

Using data to reduce gender-based violence in the energy transition

Insight, 10 December 2025

Group of men standing and talking in front of a building.

Bridging the gap between local, organised communities and city government

Insight, 10 December 2025

Rainforest on the banks of the River Pará.

Nature finance: some progress at COP30 with more needed in 2026

Insight, 08 December 2025

Two people pointing at a smartphone screen showing a map for a forest area.

Countdown to law for deforestation-free products: smallholders need support, not surprises

Insight, 03 December 2025

A group of men of different nationalities, all in formal dress, clap and smile as they pose for a photo.

Critical minerals: reflections on the G20 Leaders’ Summit

Insight, 02 December 2025

Insights

Achieving 30x30: the vital role of Indigenous and traditional territories, rights and governance

Drought unmasks structural failures and systemic inequalities in Mazyopa informal settlement

Energy-defence-AI convergence spurs demand for critical minerals

Why nature finance and gender data are central to achieving the world’s biodiversity goals

Trailblazing in Tomé Açu: inspiring a global agroforestry transition in northern Brazil

Getting back on track: turning global biodiversity promises into fair and locally-led action by 2030

Can people-centred justice stop forced evictions?

Producer countries and critical minerals diplomacy: entry points for agency

Podcasts

Longreads

Authors

About IIED insights

Insight series

Countdown to COP15

Social movements for climate justice

The transition to a predominantly urban world

What works for women’s land rights?

Get closer to our latest research on critical issues by signing up to our range of email newsletters

Connect with us

Dismantling structural racism and injustice: an update on our progress

The power of the process: why multilateral climate negotiations still matter

Are international financial institutions becoming disconnected from reality?

A shared vision, clear actions and a growing community: the next 20 years of locally led adaptation starts now

Santa Marta conference highlights legal barriers to the energy transition

Youth strategies from informal settlements: harnessing civic media to drive change around urban governance and housing

Advancing land-based investment governance: reflections on a collaborative technical support project

Karachi’s housing crisis is about inequality, not just infrastructure

Rebuilding trade rules through WTO reform: what next for sustainable development?

What to watch for across the multilateral climate funds landscape: key moments and leverage points

The missing link in water stewardship: why gender equity is not an add-on

How LDCs and SIDS are building finance tools to take adaptation projects to scale

What I have learnt in 50 years of engagement with urban issues

Three years on from the Antakya earthquake: reconnecting people to places

Living heritage approach leads to owner-driven, post-earthquake reconstruction in Gujarat, India

Indonesia’s nickel refining boom: lessons for other mineral-rich countries

Anger issues and infrastructure in Karachi: why are we all so angry?

A shrinking pot: how can the LDC climate fund keep up with targets?

Putting pledges into practice: what did COP30 mean for the multilateral climate funds?

Using data to reduce gender-based violence in the energy transition

Bridging the gap between local, organised communities and city government

Nature finance: some progress at COP30 with more needed in 2026

Countdown to law for deforestation-free products: smallholders need support, not surprises

Critical minerals: reflections on the G20 Leaders’ Summit