THE IAI SCIENTIFIC AGENDA

The IAI Scientific Agenda, adopted in June 2021, establishes a framework for scientific research on global environmental change (GEC) in the Americas. It defines the primary objective of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) as advancing comparative studies that exceed national program scopes to improve the region's ability to sustain itself and cope with GEC. The agenda is structured around four interrelated research themes—human dimensions, climate variability, ecosystems/biodiversity, and atmospheric/oceanic modulations—and is designed to be revised every 3-6 years in alignment with the IAI's Strategic Plan.

• The IAI's primary objective is to promote scientific research that goes beyond national programs, focusing on comparative studies of global environmental change (GEC) that are significant to the Americas as a whole. GEC is defined as the interactions of social, physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate Earth system changes and their mutual influence on human activities.
• The IAI identifies four interrelated research themes to guide its scientific agenda: Human dimensions of GEC; Climate change and climate variability; Ecosystems, biodiversity, land use and cover, and water resources; and Global change modulations of the atmosphere, oceans and fresh waters. Research on human dimensions and science supporting adaptation and mitigation are intended to cut across all these themes.
• The IAI supports research aligned with specific strategic areas aimed at improving the sustainability of the Americas. These areas include the reduction of inequality and poverty, the improvement of energy, water, and food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation, the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, improved human health and wellbeing, and the maintenance of clean soil, water, and air.
• The Scientific Agenda is an evolving document that allows the Conference of the Parties to integrate new scientific priorities based on the needs of countries in the region. It is scheduled for revision as needed during intersessional periods, specifically when the Strategic Plan is updated every 3-6 years.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2021). THE IAI SCIENTIFIC AGENDA. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI%20Scientific%20Agenda_2021.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. THE IAI SCIENTIFIC AGENDA. 2021. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI%20Scientific%20Agenda_2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=THE IAI SCIENTIFIC AGENDA |date=June 2021 |url=https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI%20Scientific%20Agenda_2021.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2021iai, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{THE IAI SCIENTIFIC AGENDA}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2021}, month = jun, url = {https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI%20Scientific%20Agenda_2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }