CoP_IAIDIR016-SACletter-April22

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reports that its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) faces a critical lack of continuity due to unfilled vacancies from 2012 and the expiration of five final terms between June 2013 and 2014. This instability coincides with structural changes, including the office move to Montevideo and the opening of new offices in Buenos Aires and Brazil. To mitigate this, the IAI suggests that the 21st and 22nd Conferences of the Parties (CoP) consider exceptional measures, such as allowing members to serve beyond their final terms and limiting the number of renewals per cycle to ensure the directorate receives reliable, continuous advice.

• The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is currently understaffed by two members because a November 2012 electronic vote failed to reach a quorum.
• The SAC faces a near-total loss of membership continuity over a 14-month period due to the combination of two carry-over vacancies from 2012 and five members reaching the end of their final terms.
• The instability of the SAC occurs during a period of significant IAI structural transitions, including the relocation of the office to Montevideo, the termination of five staff positions (four assistants and one manager), and the establishment of new offices for science-policy liaison in Buenos Aires and science planning in Brazil.
• To ensure effective guidance, the IAI proposes that CoP 21 conduct the postponed 2012 elections and consider an 'exceptional, informal membership' by allowing 3 or 4 members to remain on the SAC beyond their final terms for one or two additional years.
• The IAI recommends that CoP 22 also limit membership renewal to ensure that future regular turnover only affects between one and three SAC members at a time.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2013). CoP_IAIDIR016-SACletter-April22. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-21-sac-continuity-renewal-e.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. CoP_IAIDIR016-SACletter-April22. 2013. https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-21-sac-continuity-renewal-e.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=CoP_IAIDIR016-SACletter-April22 |date=19 April 2013 |url=https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-21-sac-continuity-renewal-e.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2013copiaidir016sacletterapril22, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{CoP\_IAIDIR016-SACletter-April22}}, publisher = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2013}, month = apr, url = {https://archive.iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/iai-cop-21-sac-continuity-renewal-e.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }