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The document examines the material risks climate change poses to global supply chains and the current state of private sector adaptation. It argues that while companies recognize climate risks, they often misdiagnose them by focusing on exposure rather than underlying vulnerability. Using the cotton industry as a detailed example, the paper proposes a resilience framework based on six capital assets—natural, human, social, physical, financial, and political—and provides recommendations for companies to commit to science-based resilience strategies and gender-transformative empowerment of women workers.

The document argues that the natural environment is fundamental to economic resilience and that Nature-based Solutions (NbS) offer cost-effective, flexible alternatives or complements to engineered infrastructure for adapting to climate change. It details the dependencies of key economic sectors on ecosystem services and provides evidence that NbS can mitigate risks from coastal hazards, intense precipitation, drought, and heat while providing co-benefits such as carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The authors identify significant barriers to the adoption of NbS, including lack of awareness, limited finance, and technical capacity gaps, and recommend integrating nature into climate vulnerability assessments and procurement policies.

The document describes a Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) assessment of two sites in Manitoba: the civil engineered Stephenfield Reservoir and the natural wetland Pelly's Lake. It aims to quantify the financial value of ecosystem services—such as flood protection, water storage, and carbon offsets—to inform policy-makers and investors on the benefits of maintaining natural and built infrastructure over traditional grey infrastructure.

The report evaluates the financial value of nature-based infrastructure in Manitoba, Canada, specifically Pelly's Lake (a natural wetland) and Stephenfield Reservoir (a naturalized built reservoir). Using the SAVi methodology, it calculates the value of services such as irrigation, water storage, nutrient removal, and carbon sequestration. The analysis finds that both assets are significantly more cost-effective than equivalent grey infrastructure. For Stephenfield Reservoir, the cumulative discounted value of enabled economic activity is CAD 6.07 billion by 2050, while replacing its services with grey infrastructure would cost CAD 5.33 million in capital. For Pelly's Lake, ecosystem services are valued at approximately CAD 60 million, whereas equivalent grey infrastructure would cost CAD 36.99 million. The report argues that maintaining these natural assets optimizes value for money and supports climate adaptation against floods and droughts.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of South Africa's biodiversity, highlighting its status as a megadiverse country while detailing the severe threats posed by illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, and climate change. It argues for a multidisciplinary conservation paradigm that addresses historical social injustices and integrates local communities into the management of natural resources. The document details the legal frameworks governing wildlife, the mechanics of international trafficking networks, and specific conservation initiatives such as the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project and the Khetha Programme.

The project achieved a 'Satisfactory-Highly Satisfactory' rating for its objectives, successfully strengthening national policies and engaging nine local communities in mangrove restoration and conservation. Key achievements include the update of national regulations in Panama and Ecuador, the development of a National Mangrove Plan in Ecuador (February 2019), and the creation of fisheries management plans in El Morro, Ecuador. While regional coordination through the CPPS was effective, the final regional strategy awaited official endorsement. Sustainability is rated as 'moderately likely' due to risks regarding long-term funding for on-the-ground activities.

The report examines the failure of current conservation finance to meet global needs, noting that only USD 50-53.4 billion is raised annually against a need of USD 150-440 billion. It identifies structural barriers such as low returns, high risk, and financial short-termism (the 'Tragedy of the Horizon'). The author proposes a systemic shift using natural capital accounting, mandatory corporate disclosures, and the active involvement of central banks and state investment banks to internalize environmental externalities and redirect capital toward sustainable activities.

The IAI Executive Directorate is implementing a multifaceted approach to improve the provision of scientific information to governments in the Americas. This includes drafting procedural regulations for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), establishing links with multilateral environmental agreements, and strengthening the capacity of member states to integrate science into public policy. The report highlights the conclusion of the third round of Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3), detailing how specific projects on nitrogen cycles, tropical dry forests, water security, and marine ecosystems have influenced national policies and management plans in countries such as Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Mexico.

The IAI Directorate implemented various capacity-building programs, including the São Paulo School of Advanced Science and science diplomacy workshops in partnership with AAAS. It established a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organization of American States (OAS) and is developing a Science, Technology, Policy (STeP) Fellowship Program. The report also outlines efforts to secure external funding for seed grants and territorial governance laboratories to support transdisciplinary research on global change.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on its capacity-building efforts, including the São Paulo School of Advanced Science and partnerships with the AAAS and OAS to integrate science and policy. It outlines ongoing initiatives like the STeP Fellowship and Seed Grant programs, while seeking CoP support for future implementation subject to external funding.

The paper finds that the Adaptation Fund provides limited support for ecosystem-related activities, with only 15% of funding allocated to such projects as of 2016, and most of these focusing on human-centric ecosystem services rather than ecological resilience.

The IAI Strategic Plan (2019–2044) establishes a 25-year roadmap to bridge the gap between science and policy in the Americas. It is organized into three themes: meeting the needs of member states regarding global environmental change, advancing science for regional sustainability, and ensuring the IAI's own organizational sustainability. The plan emphasizes transdisciplinary research, open data, and the inclusion of underrepresented groups to inform climate adaptation and mitigation policies.

The report details the conclusion of the CRN3 program, which involved 17 projects across 15 IAI Parties, and the launch of the SGP-HW program, which selected six projects focused on ecosystem services and human well-being. It also outlines the planning for the fourth round of Cooperative Research Networks (CRN4), emphasizing transdisciplinary research, regional priorities, and the pursuit of co-financing through entities like the Belmont Forum.

The IAI Directorate reports on the completion of the Third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3) program, which involved 17 projects across 15 IAI Parties and leveraged US$ 15.36 million in additional funding. The report details the transition toward the SGP-HW small grants program, which emphasizes transdisciplinary co-design with stakeholders and the implementation of an Open Data Policy. It also outlines the preliminary planning for the fourth iteration of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN4), recommending alignment with the Belmont Forum to secure co-funding and a focus on Party-driven priorities.

The project proposes a USD 10 million grant from the Green Climate Fund to restore 2,000 hectares of the South Marmanet Forest Reserve. The initiative focuses on three main components: improving forest governance through the Participatory Forest Management approach, implementing reforestation and afforestation activities, and diversifying community livelihoods through climate-adaptive technologies. The project aims to benefit 75,000 direct beneficiaries and 1.4 million indirect beneficiaries by stabilizing the flow of the Ewaso Ng’iro River and sequestering an estimated 18 million tonnes of carbon by 2050.

The document outlines the process and criteria for nominating candidates to the IAI's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to fill two vacancies occurring in June 2019. It specifies that current members Dr. Elena Maria Abraham and Dr. Joshua Tewksbury are eligible for reelection and details the academic and professional standards required for new nominees, emphasizing a need for expertise in social sciences, oceanography, and ecosystem services.

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the IAI is seeking nominations to fill two positions becoming vacant in June 2019, as the first terms of Dr. Elena Maria Abraham and Dr. Joshua Tewksbury expire. The SAC emphasizes that candidates must be selected based on scientific excellence and a multidisciplinary profile rather than as national representatives, specifically highlighting a need for expertise in social sciences, oceanography, and ecosystem services.

The document outlines the process and criteria for nominating members to the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Two current members, Dr. Elena Maria Abraham of Argentina and Dr. Joshua Tewksbury of the United States, are eligible for re-election. The SAC recommends that new appointments possess high academic excellence, a strong publication record, and a doctorate. For 2019, the committee specifically identifies a need for expertise in social sciences, oceanography, and ecosystem services, while encouraging the nomination of under-represented groups.

The authors examine the 'financialization of nature,' arguing that securitizing ecosystem services creates incentives to maximize a narrow set of commodifiable outputs at the expense of overall ecosystem health. They contend that the fungibility required for financial markets ignores the complex, location-specific nature of ecosystems. While they identify limited exceptions—such as tradable permits for widely-dispersed gases (e.g., CO2 and SOx) and socially responsible investing (SRI) for already-managed lands—they warn that most environmental credits and offsets fail to protect biodiversity or ensure genuine additionality.

The Bio-CLIMA project aims to transform extensive cattle ranching and agriculture in Nicaragua's Caribbean Region into sustainable, deforestation-free production. The project targets the buffer zones of the BOSAWÁS and Rio San Juan Biosphere Reserves, focusing on 66,223 hectares and approximately 26,260 direct beneficiaries. It employs a three-pronged strategy: providing technical assistance and financial incentives for climate-smart production modules (silvo-pastural, agroforestry, and sustainable forest management), strengthening local governance and law enforcement, and developing adaptive capacity through training and early warning systems. The project is estimated to cost USD 110.4 million, with USD 79.8 million requested from the Green Climate Fund as a mix of grants and loans.