| 1971 | Founding of International Institute for Environmental Affairs (IIEA), Aspen, Chairman Robert Anderson, President Jack Raymond (1971–1973) |
| 1972 | Publication of Only One Earth, by Barbara Ward and René Dubos |
| 1972 | United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm, June |
| 1973 | International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) established, London and Washington DC (formerly the IIEA, Aspen), Chairman Robert Anderson, President Barbara Ward (1973–1980) |
| 1974 | Gerald Leach establishes IIED's Energy Programme |
| 1976 | Earthscan established within IIED as an independent news and information service |
| 1976 | HABITAT, the first UN Conference on Human Settlements, Vancouver |
| 1977 | Jorge Hardoy establishes the IIED Human Settlements Programme, formed by a network of Southern institutions |
| 1979 | IIED opens an office in Buenos Aires, which later becomes IIED Latin America, an independent non-profit organization |
| 1980 | William Clark becomes President of IIED (1980–1984) |
| 1983 | Forestry and Land Use Programme of IIED established by Duncan Poore |
| 1985 | Brian W Walker becomes President of IIED (1985–1989) |
| 1986 | The IIED Sustainable Agriculture Programme established by Gordon Conway |
| 1986 | Earthscan Director Jon Tinker leaves IIED and establishes the Panos Institutes |
| 1987 | IIED Drylands Programme established by Camilla Toulmin |
| 1988 | IIED's Washington office merges with the World Resources Institute |
| 1989 | Richard Sandbrook becomes Executive Director of IIED (1989–1999) |
| 1989 | IIED establishes what becomes the Environmental Economics Programme |
| 1992 | IIED plays a key role in preparations for the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro |
| 1999 | Nigel Cross becomes Executive Director of IIED |
| 2000 | IIED launches the Minerals, Mining and Sustainable Development Project |
| 2001 | IIED celebrates its 30th anniversary with an international workshop and conference entitled ‘Equity for a small planet’ |
