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
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 But the days of accepting compromise as progress is 20 years out of date, and the vulnerable countries held firm.
13 December 2019
As the UN climate talks head towards their conclusion in Madrid, Spain, IIED director Andrew Norton said: "The fate of the Paris Agreement is in the balance.
5 December 2019
IIED is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Tara Shine as its new chair
2 December 2019
At the start of the UN climate talks (COP25) in Madrid, Spain, IIED director Andrew Norton said: "The alarming rise in global devastation from climate change demands governments agree urgent action in Madrid. Decisions need to put the world on course to no more than a 1.5°C temperature rise above pre-industrial levels. We cannot afford to go higher.
1 November 2019
In response to the news that the UN climate negotiations (COP25) will take place in Madrid, Spain, from 2-13 December 2019, rather than Santiago, Chile, IIED climate change director Clare Shakya says: “With time running out to prevent catastrophic climate breakdown, it is imperative that the international climate talks do not lose momentum.
Media mentions
As the world seeks to find ways to protect people from the coronavirus pandemic, Cecilia Tacoli, IIED principle researcher on urban issues, highlights that however important social distancing is, it is unrealistic for the world's poor as low-income settlements in developing countries are densely populated and lack water, sanitation and health services, encouraging the spread of diseases.
Coronavirus is slowing developing nations’ plans to step up climate action. IIED's Anna Schultz, head of global climate law policy and governance, warns “the virus could also delay the start of their nationally determined contributions development if it impacts the capacity of partner organisations and funders to release funding.”
Millions of people in poor conditions in Asia are at higher risk of coronavirus. IIED’s Cecilia Tacoli, Principal researcher on urban issues, warns ‘given new infectious diseases will likely spread rapidly into and within cities, low-income settlements need more effective infrastructure’.
In this comment piece, IIED director Andrew Norton highlights it is worth thinking through at this point what the impact of the coronavirus pandemic may be on climate change and climate actions in terms of emissions, global and national politics and social change.
Since the coronavirus outbreak, many are turning to videoconferencing so they can work and meet remotely. But virtual conferencing is not for everyone, warned Anna Schulz, IIED’s head of global climate law policy and governance. Depending on the internet for meetings is patchy in developing countries and would ‘further marginalise vulnerable voices’, she said.