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The report examines the role of hydropower in Latin America and the Caribbean's transition to low-carbon development. While the region relies heavily on hydropower—supplying 46% of its electricity—climate change poses risks through glacier retreat and precipitation variability. The authors advocate for integrated planning using the WEAP and LEAP tools to manage the water-energy nexus and navigate tradeoffs between hydropower, biofuels, and other water demands.

The report examines 'development without carbon' (DWC) in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on hydropower's role. While hydropower provides 46% of the region's electricity and has significant untapped potential, climate change—specifically glacier retreat in the Andes and rainfall variability—threatens production reliability. The authors advocate for moving away from static planning toward flexible infrastructure and the use of integrated Water Evaluation And Planning (WEAP) and Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning (LEAP) tools to manage water-energy tradeoffs and climate uncertainty.

The report details the outcomes of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) programs, specifically the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN II), Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and an IDRC-funded project on the Río de la Plata basin. Key findings highlight the vulnerability of Andean cloud forests, the impact of land-use changes on hydrology in the Río de la Plata basin, and the increasing frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean. The document emphasizes the 'value added' by integrating social and economic sciences (Human Dimensions) to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation, citing specific influences on forest protection laws in Brazil and glacier protection legislation in Argentina.

The report details the progress of the Second Collaborative Research Network (CRNII), the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and an IDRC-funded project on the La Plata Basin. Key findings include the impact of land-use change on hydrology in the La Plata Basin, the vulnerability of Andean cloud forests and glaciers, and the development of urban pollution forecasting for Latin American cities. The document emphasizes the role of 'Human Dimensions' projects in bridging the science-policy divide, providing evidence for forest protection laws in Brazil and Argentina, and improving water management strategies in Chile and Mexico. It also highlights the capacity building achieved through scholarships and workshops for over 1,600 students across the programs.

The report details the progress of the Second Collaborative Research Network (CRNII), the Small Grants Program for the Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and an IDRC-funded project on the La Plata Basin. It highlights the integration of social and economic research into natural sciences to bridge the science-policy divide, resulting in 343 joint scientific publications and significant capacity building for over 1,600 students. Key findings include the impact of land-use change on hydrology in the La Plata Basin, the vulnerability of Andean cloud forests and glaciers, and the influence of ocean currents on fisheries and carbon sequestration in the South Atlantic. The document also notes direct policy contributions, such as informing the National Glacier Protection Law in Argentina and updating urban decontamination plans in Bogotá and Medellín.

The study utilizes the Water Evaluation and Planning System (WEAP) in the Rio Santa watershed, Peru, to simulate glacier retreat and river flows over the last forty years. The project aims to quantify the contribution of melting glaciers and groundwater to river flows and simulate hydropower operations, ultimately providing a tool to improve the resilience of Andean economies against climate change.

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan-Tibetan (HKHT) region is warming twice as fast as the global average, with temperatures increasing by 1.2 °C over the last 120 years. This warming, driven by CO2 and black carbon (BC), is causing widespread glacier retreat and a weakening of the South Asian monsoon system. Black carbon, a byproduct of incomplete combustion from fossil fuels and biomass, reduces snow albedo and heats the lower atmosphere via Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABCs), potentially playing a role as significant as CO2 in melting Himalayan glaciers. These changes threaten water security for millions, including 500 million people in the Ganges River Basin, and increase the frequency of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs).

The document clarifies that in science, uncertainty refers to the degree to which something is known rather than a complete lack of knowledge. It explains that climate scientists use specific probabilistic language—such as 'very likely' to denote a greater than 90 percent chance—to inform public policy and decision-making. While certain facts are established without uncertainty, such as the role of fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect in warming the Earth, uncertainties remain regarding the exact magnitude of future warming and the timing of specific ecological losses, often depending on future human actions to reduce emissions.

The project investigates long-term hydrological changes in the American cordillera, utilizing tree-ring records and streamflow data to analyze drought patterns and climate regime shifts. Initial findings highlight a severe 14th-century drought in the high Andes with significant social consequences, a declining streamflow trend in Chile linked to the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, and an increasing drought risk in the southern Andes between 1920 and 2002 that threatens agriculture and hydroelectric power.

The tropical Andes are a global biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism, particularly in cloud forests and high-altitude ecosystems. Climate change, characterized by rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns, threatens these species, especially those at high altitudes with limited migration options. The document emphasizes that anthropogenic habitat fragmentation exacerbates these risks, potentially leading to mass extinctions. It advocates for adaptive management, the creation of connected conservation areas with broad environmental gradients, and the integration of ecosystem services into policy. Significant knowledge gaps remain in taxonomy and regional climate modeling, and the region faces institutional challenges including limited funding and a 'brain drain' of scientists.

The report provides a series of case studies and personal accounts from individuals in Australia, Brazil, Honduras, Malaysia, Mali, Peru, Swaziland, Tuvalu, and the United Kingdom. It argues that the most vulnerable populations—particularly indigenous peoples and those in the Global South—suffer the most from climate change despite contributing the least to it. The document details specific environmental disasters, such as Hurricane Catarina in Brazil and Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, and discusses local adaptation strategies including organic farming, mangrove reforestation, and community-led coastal defenses.

The Union of Concerned Scientists addresses several claims from Michael Crichton's State of Fear that cast doubt on global warming. The document explains that regional cooling trends are compatible with global warming due to factors like sulfate aerosols, and that the urban heat island effect is a minor component of temperature trends. It asserts that CO2 is a primary driver of warming, though other factors like volcanic eruptions influence short-term trends. The text highlights the retreat of major ice sheets and the long-term persistence of atmospheric CO2 as urgent reasons to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

The document analyzes temperature trends in the central Peruvian Andes using MODIS satellite data, finding that warming is occurring across the region but intensifies with altitude. It highlights the risk to high-mountain ecosystems and water supplies, urging for targeted research and adaptation policies for high-risk regions and crops.

The report argues that climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes requires a shift from fragmented, traditional science to a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that integrates natural and social sciences with traditional knowledge. It identifies key barriers, such as the disconnect between scientists and policymakers, fragmented information, and a lack of institutional support for interdisciplinary work. The document highlights national examples from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, emphasizing the need for government-led funding strategies that prioritize transdisciplinary research to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and human well-being.

The document outlines the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on water security across the Americas, highlighting increased variability in the water cycle, glacier loss in the Andes, and water scarcity in North America. It emphasizes that current adaptation practices are becoming insufficient and advocates for equitable, inclusive, and transformational policies that integrate indigenous knowledge and intersectoral coordination to reduce future risks.

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 IAI's 2013-2014 report details the management of several research networks, including the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3) and the MacArthur Foundation project, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to global change. Key achievements include the development of a GIS-based climate assistant for the tropical Andes, the publication of a guide on urban climate responses in Latin America, and the establishment of strategic partnerships with IPBES, UNESCO, and Future Earth. The report also highlights the transition of the IAI's executive office to Montevideo and ongoing efforts to integrate social sciences into climate research to better inform policy decisions.

The document describes how CARE Peru used the CRiSTAL and CVCA tools across 14 communities in the Peruvian Andes, specifically in the municipality of Santa Teresa, to identify and implement local adaptation measures. Key risks identified by residents include landslides, unpredictable rainfall, water scarcity, and plant diseases. Implemented solutions include model farms with drip irrigation and shade nets, livelihood diversification through tourism, and the empowerment of women through beekeeping and collective savings. The process has led to the integration of climate change adaptation into local municipal development plans.

The document analyzes the HighNoon project, which began in 2009 to assess the impacts of Himalayan glacier retreat and monsoon changes on water resources in Northern India. It focuses on how modeled climate and hydrological data, combined with stakeholder perspectives, can be used to recommend response strategies for hydrological extreme events and guide government investments in information systems.