Report of the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research

The 33rd meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP-33) in Asunción, Paraguay, focused on strengthening regional scientific cooperation to address global environmental change. Key outcomes include the adoption of the Asunción Declaration on Water Security, Biodiversity, and Climate Resilience, the establishment of the Indigenous People Advisory Committee (IPAC), and the launch of new transdisciplinary and science diplomacy curricula. The meeting also addressed funding uncertainties for Belmont Forum Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs) and approved the appointment of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC) as Associates. A special session on Paraguay highlighted the increasing intensity of droughts and wildfires, emphasizing the need for improved early warning systems and the integration of science into diplomatic negotiations for water management.

• The Conference of the Parties adopted the Asunción Declaration, which emphasizes the need for joint action against the "escalating frequency and severity of climate related extreme events in Latin America and the Caribbean" and calls for strengthened regional early warning and response systems.
• The IAI established the Indigenous People Advisory Committee (IPAC) to ensure the "active participation and revalorization of the collective action of Indigenous Peoples" in developing global solutions and transdisciplinary research.
• The IAI launched three new capacity-building products: a Transdisciplinary Curriculum on global environmental change in Latin America and the Caribbean, a Science Diplomacy Curriculum developed with the University of São Paulo, and a Biodiversity Compendium co-published with the IUCN and Latinoamérica21.
• Budgetary uncertainty from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has put at risk funding for several Belmont Forum Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs), specifically the Climate, Environment, and Health CRA and the Tropical Forests CRA.
• The IAI approved the appointment of three new Associates: the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC).
• A case study on Paraguay revealed that approximately 2 to 2.5 million hectares are burned annually, with over 20 million hectares affected since 2001, driven by precipitation anomalies and shifting fire patterns.
• The IAI updated its Open Science Policy based on four pillars: adherence to FAIR principles for data, compliance with CARE principles for Indigenous data governance, open publication of research outputs, and increased data re-use.
• The Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is prioritizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a thematic focus for 2025–2026 to help regional institutions apply AI tools responsibly in the context of global environmental change.
• The IAI has transitioned its Directorate from Uruguay to Panama to strengthen ties with Central America and the Caribbean.

APA

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (2025). Report of the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/CoP-33-report-en.pdf

Chicago

Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Report of the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. 2025. https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/CoP-33-report-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |title=Report of the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |date=29 July 2025 |url=https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/CoP-33-report-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{interamericaninstituteforglobalchangeresearch2025report, author = {{Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, title = {{Report of the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/CoP-33-report-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }