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This report documents the first decade of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), from its establishment in 1992 to 2002. It details the institute's institutional structure, the evolution of its scientific agenda, and the implementation of various research funding programs and collaborative networks aimed at understanding global environmental changes across the Americas.

This report documents the first decade of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), covering its institutional development, scientific agenda, and research programs from 1992 to 2002. It details the transition from a conceptual phase to an operational entity, the establishment of its headquarters in Brazil, and the implementation of various grant programs and cooperative research networks aimed at understanding environmental changes across the Americas.

This report documents the first decade of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), from its establishment in 1992 to 2002. It outlines the institute's institutional development, the evolution of its scientific agenda, and the implementation of various grant programs and research networks designed to understand environmental changes across the Americas.

This briefing, prepared for COP-7 in February 2004, outlines strategies for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to build capacity to combat invasive alien species (IAS). It emphasizes the necessity of comprehensive legislative frameworks, regional coordination, and the utilization of existing science and technology to prevent, control, and eradicate IAS.

This report details the outcomes of a three-day workshop on 'Supporting Protected Areas in Times of Violent Conflict' held during the 5th IUCN World Parks Congress in Durban, South Africa, in September 2003. Co-organized by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) under a UNDP-supported initiative, the workshop focused on the bidirectional relationship between protected areas and violent conflict, identifying best practices for management during crises and the role of conservation in peace-building and post-conflict reconstruction.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and progress between June and November 2003. It outlines the implementation of six strategic goals focused on strengthening Collaborative Research Networks (CRNs), capacity building in scientifically weaker member countries, and increasing the institute's visibility through international partnerships and educational institutes.

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) issued this response on October 27, 2003, to address submissions received during a 120-day public comment period regarding the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) Pipeline and ACG Phase 1 projects. The document defends the projects' compliance with IFC and World Bank safeguard policies, specifically addressing concerns from NGOs and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) regarding environmental assessments, involuntary resettlement, and the treatment of vulnerable groups.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines the theories, institutions, and impacts of the global trade system, arguing that its core principles are fundamentally flawed and prioritize economic growth and corporate interests over environmental sustainability, social equity, and human development.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FOEI) examines how multilateral trade negotiations within the World Trade Organization (WTO) could negatively impact the rights of Indigenous Peoples, specifically regarding territorial rights, traditional knowledge, and the management of protected areas and natural resources.

This briefing document presents the updated Scientific Agenda of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), as presented during the CE-XVII and CoP-X meetings in June 2003. The agenda defines the IAI's mission to understand the integrated impact of past, present, and future global change on the regional and continental environments of the Americas through four broad research themes.

This report by Friends of the Earth International describes the role of small-scale farmers and indigenous communities in Latin America in protecting and restoring biodiversity. It highlights specific local projects in Costa Rica, Paraguay, and Uruguay while critiquing the impact of industrial monocultures, the 'Green Revolution', and neoliberal trade policies on global biodiversity and rural livelihoods.

The document contains the minutes and resolutions of the Tenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held on June 3 and 5, 2003, in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The meeting focused on approving the annual program and core budget for FY 2003/2004, updating the IAI Science Agenda, and addressing critical funding shortages caused by member country arrears.

This research paper analyzes the economic and environmental impacts of first-generation genetically modified (GM) crops, specifically Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans, Bt cotton, and Bt corn, with a focus on the United States and Argentina. The author examines adoption rates, pesticide use, and yield data, concluding that while some environmental benefits exist—such as reduced soil erosion from no-till systems—the technology has led to increased herbicide volumes, 'yield drag' in RR soybeans, and emerging ecological risks including weed resistance and soil microbial shifts.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It examines the official Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development, various unofficial scientific and NGO forums, and the perceived failures of the decade following the Rio Earth Summit.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in August and September 2002. It outlines the IAI's participation in official sessions and alternative forums, specifically focusing on climate change, biodiversity, and ecosystem monitoring.

This report by Jenny Clover for the Institute for Security Studies examines the debate over Genetically Modified (GM) foods in Africa, specifically within the context of a food crisis in Southern Africa in 2002. The author argues that while GM technology offers potential productive gains, it cannot solve hunger on its own because food security is a complex issue involving economic, social, and political factors. The document highlights the tension between immediate humanitarian needs for food aid and long-term concerns regarding biodiversity, multinational corporate control of seeds, and trade restrictions, particularly with the European Union.

This report by Friends of the Earth International examines the conflict between corporate-led economic models and the conservation of forest biodiversity. Through case studies in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, it argues that neoliberal policies, transnational investments, and flawed international definitions of 'forests' drive deforestation and displace indigenous and local communities, who act as the primary defenders of biodiversity.

This briefing from the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides preliminary comments and proposed textual amendments to the Chairman's Paper dated 9 May 2002 for the Fourth Session of the Preparatory Committee for the World Summit on Sustainable Development. CIEL argues that while the draft has improved, it still lacks critical protections for human rights, community-based property rights, and rigorous regulation of biotechnology, and it fails to sufficiently address the risks associated with intellectual property rights and the liberalization of trade in services.

This briefing by Friends of the Earth International examines how the World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations following the 2001 Doha Ministerial Conference may undermine the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The document highlights conflicts between trade liberalization and biodiversity protection, specifically regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), agricultural subsidies, and intellectual property rights.

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) provides preliminary comments on the second drafts of the Ministerial Declaration and Implementation Decision for the Doha Ministerial Conference. The authors argue that these documents fail to adequately integrate the principles and objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) into the WTO framework, particularly within the TRIPS Agreement, and do not sufficiently address the concerns of developing countries regarding sustainable development and genetic resources.