Media centre
If you are a journalist and would like a comment, interview and/or briefing, please contact Beth Herzfeld, IIED's head of media.
This section of our site is designed for members of the media. You can find our latest press releases, contact details and information about our spokespeople.
IIED experts are available for interviews and background briefings on a wide range of environmental and development issues, from climate change and climate finance to China and development, the economics of development, urban issues and resilient cities, and the illegal wildlife trade. See a full list of our areas of work.
For non-media enquiries, please go to our contact us page, and for general news go to our news and comment section.
Latest press releases
8 September 2020
The urgent pressure of rising developing country debt, climate change and the destruction of biodiversity can be addressed together using a new form of debt swaps. This provides the opportunity for a green post-COVID-19 recovery that will help reduce poverty, a new report released today says
22 April 2020
Statement on the 50th anniversary of Earth Day from IIED director Andrew Norton: “As COVID-19 dominates global attention and action it is critical governments remember that their urgent action is also needed to stop the twin emergencies of nature’s destruction and climate change.
2 April 2020
In response to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and COP26 president the UK government’s announcement that the 2020 UN climate summit is postponed, IIED director Andrew Norton said: “Given the disruption to the entire political process leading up to the climate summit, including the postponement of crucial preparatory meetings, this decision is not surprising, however disappointing. But it is vital that throughout this process the voices of the people in the most vulnerable countries can be heard, which without face-to-face meetings, is not possible.
3 March 2020
New research introducing a system to help protect biodiversity while also reducing poverty, is released by IIED today, marking World Wildlife Day (3 March)
13 February 2020
In response to the appointment of Alok Sharma as next president of the 26th UN climate change conference (COP), IIED director Andrew Norton said: "The government’s appointment of Alok Sharma was unexpected although his previous ministerial background in international development and the Foreign Office should mean he understands the scale of the task ahead and the importance of the voices of the most vulnerable countries.
20 January 2020
On Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement that the UK government will stop investing in coal overseas, IIED director Andrew Norton said: “The UK government’s decision to stop providing aid to support coal projects is long overdue and a welcome step in the right direction – but it needs to go further.
15 December 2019
On the conclusion of the UN climate talks in Madrid, Spain, Andrew Norton, director of the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), said: “Determination to rise to the challenge we all face has averted a near victory for the polluters. But the days of accepting compromise as progress is 20 years out of date, and the vulnerable countries held firm.
Media mentions
As governments and institutions gather to address the economic impact of COVID-19, a new IIED report shows they have an opportunity to tackle debt, climate and biodiversity destruction together through a new use of debt swaps. Large-scale debt swaps would help tackle poverty and environmental destruction.
Cameroon’s Ebo Forest is put at risk as a decree opens it up to logging. China is now one of the country’s biggest buyer of timber an IIED report shows. Environmentalists are concerned by this latest move, which further threatens the country’s forests and the life that depends on them.
The UK government's decision to fold DFID into the Foreign Office raises concerns about whether climate finance will be affected. IIED Director Andrew Norton says making sure it continues to be directed at the vulnerable countries that need it is key to the UK’s alliance-building efforts ahead of COP26.
As countries seek to recover from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, Britain's Committee on Climate Change says this is an opportunity to have a low-carbon transition. IIED senior associate Camilla Toulmin says the UK cannot afford to slowdown or delay to climate action.
IIED senior associate Camilla Toulmin reviews how climate change, COVID-19 and conflict have changed Malian village life over the past 30 years.