Search Climate Insights Directory

The proposed consortium between IAI, ICSU-ROLAC, and UNESCO aims to implement an interdisciplinary research and capacity-building program in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable energy and risk prevention and management within the Future Earth framework.

The IAI has developed a comprehensive set of 24 KPIs and 38 metrics to evaluate its progress in advancing transdisciplinary science, capacity building, and organizational sustainability in the Americas. These metrics cover areas such as fundraising, open data management, and the integration of underrepresented groups in research.

The IAI has established a framework of indicators and metrics to assess progress toward its 25-year Strategic Plan (2019–2044). This framework includes 24 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and a series of leading and lagging metrics across categories such as fundraising, open data, capacity building, and science priorities. The system is designed to be reviewed every three to six years to align with the tenure of the IAI Executive Director.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) was established in 1992 following the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development to conduct multinational collaborative research on global environmental change in the Americas. Its mission is to advance scientific understanding of these phenomena and their socioeconomic implications to support policy-makers in member countries. The IAI's Science Agenda focuses on two primary themes: understanding climate change and variability, and conducting comparative studies of ecosystems, biodiversity, land use, and water resources.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is an intergovernmental entity established in 1992 to improve the understanding of global environmental change and its socioeconomic implications in the Americas. It provides scientific information to policymakers in its 19 member countries to support the development of adaptation plans. The IAI's scientific agenda focuses on climate variability, regional climate change, and comparative studies of ecosystems, biodiversity, and water resources across tropical, temperate, and cold latitudes.

The document outlines the formation of the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee (IPAC) to integrate indigenous knowledge and perspectives into the IAI's scientific agenda and policies on global environmental change in the Americas. It details the committee's mission to advise the Conference of the Parties and Executive Directorate, the specific professional and community-based requirements for candidates, and the governance framework, including a five-member composition with staggered mandates. The text emphasizes the integration of 'Indigenous Science'—defined as a systematic body of knowledge complementing Western science—and aligns the committee's goals with the IAI's Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policy to ensure representation of women and youth.

The policy brief highlights the risks of nitrogen mismanagement in Latin America, where excess fertilizer use and poor wastewater treatment threaten ecosystems and food security. It advocates for the creation of specific policy frameworks and management tools, such as threshold levels for nutrient application, to prevent soil degradation and water pollution. The brief also notes that without improved wastewater treatment, coastal nitrogen levels in South America could triple by 2050.

The #SeAdapta project investigates the vulnerability and adaptation of small-scale fisheries in South America. In Uruguay, the project emphasizes combining scientific data with local ecological knowledge for better fishery management. In Argentina, research on the yellow clam (Mesodesma mactroides) and wedge clam (Donax hanleyanus) indicates that climate oscillations like El Niño and changes in salinity and temperature negatively impact growth and abundance. In the Galápagos Islands, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of the seafood system to global shocks but also the critical role of small-scale fishing in maintaining food security, leading to recommendations for local consumption, improved business capacity, technology to fight illegal fishing, and a circular economy.

The document examines the multifaceted impacts of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on vulnerable populations, ecosystem degradation, and the necessity of a transdisciplinary approach to science. Key findings highlight the disproportionate burden on rural women, the role of ocean warming in destroying artisanal fisheries, the link between habitat loss and emerging zoonotic diseases, and the increasing frequency of climate-driven migration. It specifically analyzes the 'vicious cycle' of fires in the Amazon and the challenges of water governance in the Paraná Basin. The report argues that traditional top-down scientific models often exclude the voices of those most affected, proposing a 'co-production' of knowledge between scientists and local communities to create more effective and just adaptation strategies.

The project focuses on the intersection of human and natural systems in western North America, specifically addressing risks from weather extremes, water scarcity, and food security. It aims to strengthen adaptive management by promoting the exchange of climate information between scientists and policymakers, utilizing tools like the Binational Climate Summary and GIS analysis of tropical cyclones. Phase I findings indicate that while water managers are interested in seasonal forecasts, their utility is hindered by issues with spatial and temporal resolution and a lack of inter-agency cooperation. The document also notes that agriculture consumes 70% to 90% of the region's water and that population growth is increasing water and energy demands.

The report identifies a significant gap between climate change and biodiversity policies in the Tropical Andes, noting that while legal frameworks exist, scientific research and institutional coordination remain fragmented. It highlights that high-altitude zones are the most vulnerable to climate change, affecting ecosystem services for lowland areas. The document details national strategies and projects in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, emphasizing the need for integrated monitoring networks, better flow of scientific data to decision-makers, and the development of multidisciplinary research to study the interaction between climate variability and species distribution.

The document identifies the IAI Directorate and members of its Science-Policy and Scientific Advisory Committees attending UNFCCC COP28. The delegation includes experts in climate and health, science diplomacy, adaptation for rural and indigenous communities, carbon emissions, and marine governance.

The document lists the IAI delegation and advisory committee members attending COP28, detailing their professional focuses and areas of expertise. Key personnel include Executive Director Anna Stewart Ibarra, Science Director Edwin Castellanos, and Deputy Executive Director Marcella Ohira, alongside advisory members specializing in climate policy, ecosystem services, regional climate scenarios, and marine ecology.

The document outlines the objectives of ANDEX (Regional Hydroclimatic Program for the Andes), an initiative under the GEWEX and WCRP frameworks. It identifies critical threats to the Andean region, including climate change, deforestation, and land-use changes, which jeopardize the water and food security of approximately 90 million people. ANDEX aims to bridge the gap between the scientific community and operational services to improve hydro-meteorological monitoring and forecasting. The program focuses on two primary goals: improving water security for Andean populations and reducing risks from high-impact hydroclimatic events through evidence-based tools and regional cooperation.

The document outlines twelve projects (SG-CEH-01 to SG-CEH-12) focused on the climate-environment-health nexus. Key research areas include the expansion of dengue and diarrheal diseases in Peru, Argentina, Colombia, and Cuba; the impact of extreme heat on older adults and urban populations in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, and Chile; and the effects of climate change on nutrition and agroecology in Bolivia and Uruguay. The projects emphasize the need for intersectoral coordination, community participation, and the integration of climate data into public health surveillance and urban planning to build resilience against climate-driven health risks.

The document details twelve transdisciplinary projects investigating how climate change exacerbates health vulnerabilities in the Americas. Key focus areas include the spread of dengue and waterborne diseases, the impact of extreme heat on urban populations, and the role of agroecology and community participation in building climate resilience. The findings emphasize that effective health adaptation requires intersectoral coordination, the integration of satellite and local data, and the inclusion of marginalized groups, such as rural women and the elderly, in policy design.

The document outlines the formation of the Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee (IPAC) to integrate Indigenous knowledge and science into the IAI's scientific agenda on Global Environmental Change (GEC). It specifies that the committee will consist of five members from IAI member countries, emphasizing equitable representation of women and youth. The IPAC is designed to provide recommendations on the IAI's Strategic Plan and scientific agenda, working alongside the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC). The text also details the candidate requirements, nomination process, and the IAI's broader Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policy.

The policy brief highlights the risks of improper nitrogen use in Latin American agriculture and wastewater management, advocating for evidence-based policies to prevent soil degradation and water contamination. It details a research project by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) to monitor nitrogen cycles and develop management tools across several American countries.

The #SeAdapta project investigates the adaptive capacity of small-scale fisheries in Latin America, specifically focusing on Yellow Clam, Spiny Lobster, and Sea Cucumber. In Uruguay, the project emphasizes the value of combining conventional science with local ecological knowledge. In Argentina, research on yellow and wedge clams shows that shell properties and population abundance are negatively impacted by El Niño and low-salinity waters. In the Galapagos Islands, the project found that while the seafood system is vulnerable to global shocks like COVID-19, small-scale fisheries are critical for food security, leading to recommendations for systemic transformation through local consumption, entrepreneurial support, technology against illegal fishing, and circular economy practices.

The document examines the failures of South Africa's industrial food system, characterized by corporate power, land inequality, and high greenhouse gas emissions. It advocates for a 'just transition' that prioritizes workers, small-scale farmers, and women over corporate profit. The author proposes a framework based on three goals: decent livelihoods, environmental sustainability through agro-ecology, and the right to food and nutrition. The text warns that 'green' transitions focusing only on production sustainability may reinforce existing inequalities if they ignore power dynamics and social justice.