James Astill

James Astill was appointed Political Editor and Bagehot columnist in 2012. He joined The Economist as International Security Editor in 2004. He had previously filed dispatches from Afghanistan, Pakistan and many African countries, while also working for the Guardian. In 2007 he moved to Delhi to be the South Asia Correspondent, writing on all the countries of the Indian sub-continent.

He has won several awards, including the Grantham prize for a special report on the world's forests. He carried out reporting and research for the report in the forests of Indonesia, India, Uganda, Brazil and Mexico. Mr Astill has also written special reports on India, on Pakistan and the Arctic. He returned to London in 2011 to take up the role of Energy and Environment Editor before his current appointment.

James Astill will moderate Plenary 2: National Level Progress on REDD+