Media mentions

Eight of the world’s 46 poorest countries submitted stronger climate action plans by 31 Dec and a further 11 are expected to do the same soon, despite challenges caused by the pandemic and technical and financial barriers, IIED’s Anna Schulz, head of the global climate law, policy and governance programme said.

E-waste is a growing problem and not enough is being recycled. "While consumers will often say 'Yes, of course I am in favour of recycling, and yes, I recycle,' when you actually look at behaviours, it doesn't match up with the percentages who say they would do it," said Laura Kelly, IIED’s director of the Shaping Sustainable Markets group .

Compensation for the poorest countries is being debated ahead of COP26. “When you look at transformative climate adaptation outcomes, they’ve tended to be where they've had more localisation. There's more local engagement, more local leadership, and in defining what interventions will make the biggest difference,” said Clare Shakya, IIED’s director of the climate change group.

In response to the WTO missing its 2020 deadline to reach an agreement on eliminating harmful fishing subsidies, IIED’s Annabelle Bladon said: “It is vital the WTO uses this extra time to achieve an agreement that is effective both in protecting … people [who depend on the ocean] and the health of the ocean.”

The WTO's negotiations on ending harmful fisheries subsidies have missed their deadline. IIED's Annabelle Bladon warns of the implications for achieving the SDG goal to prohibit the subsidies that cause overfishing and missing its 2020 goal.

Kevin Johnston, IIED’s energy researcher, writes so far this year, 75% of global investment commitments in off-grid solar technology have gone to just three companies. Kenya has seen remarkable growth in the market for decentralised energy systems. Despite this, companies owned and managed by Kenyans have struggled to capture a significant share of the market.

Neha Rai, IIED senior researcher on climate change, talks on climate smart agriculture and carbon finance.

IIED'S Lucy Earle writes how SDI Kenya is working to have urban refugees included in city plans to improve informal settlements, which is crucial to make sure the city benefits all.

As the WTO hosts last-ditch talks to end harmful fisheries subsidies, there is increased worry among observers that a deal may not get done. Annabelle Bladon, IIED researcher on the blue economy said "These talks have been going on for years and the issues are extremely urgent – already this is an extension of the original 2019 deadline.”

The UK’s decision to cut aid risks damaging its global reputation and could lead other wealthy governments to do the same, which could hit poorer countries’ ability to tackle the climate crisis. Andrew Norton, IIED’s director, said even if the UK honours its climate funding commitment, the cut in aid sends a terrible signal.

In a joint letter, the chief executives from leading organisations, including IIED, Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and E3G, call on the UK government not to cut aid. It would fail people in the poorest countries and risk failing to fulfil its Paris agreement commitments.

Population growth is often cited as a key problem for the environment. IIED's Anna Walnycki, senior researcher on urban issues, highlights some of the misconceptions about population growth and where the pressures really lie.

Andrew Norton, IIED's Director, writes that on climate finance, faster emissions cuts and setting the climate action traffic signal for business from red to green, a Biden administration could produce big shifts.

Paul Steele, IIED’s chief economist writes that as the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meet this week to agree measures to control COVID-19’s sledgehammer effect on the global economy, governments have the opportunity to agree a recovery plan that can put the economy back on track while helping to address rising debt, as well as climate change and the accelerating loss of nature.

How can conservation efforts reduce poaching and limit the risk of disease? IIED’s Dilys Roe says the solution lies in communities “involving them as game guards, making sure they benefit from wildlife, that the costs of living with wildlife are minimised, and ensuring they have alternative ways of making a living other than poaching”.

A new IIED report reveals how a complex set of international legal measures protecting the fossil fuel industry risks significantly increasing the cost of moving to green energy and tackling climate change.

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.

Lorenzo Cotula, IIED's principal researcher on law and sustainable development, writes that reports suggest the COVID-19 fallout is providing opportunities for elites to seize lands and rewrite regulations. Effective responses are needed now in order to protect land rights and lay the foundations for a just recovery after the pandemic.

As plans on how to change the way we work and live once the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted, Sam Green, IIED senior climate change researcher, reminds "There's an opportunity not to talk about what we have to have less of [to deal with climate change] but how we can create a more just and resilient future."

As business looks to how it can speed post-COVID economic recovery, IIED's Laura Kelly writes its policies need to be green and social so the Sustainable Development Goals can be met and 20 years of development gains in the poorest countries are not wiped out.

Transition to a green economy is crucial for keeping temperature rise below a 1.5°C rise. Some say it will be hard for developing countries to do. Paul Steele, IIED's chief economist, says they have the sorts of resources that make this change possible and, in some cases more access to the sources that can power renewables.