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The document proposes the American Geophysical Union (AGU) as an associate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), highlighting AGU's leadership in Earth sciences, open science, and its existing collaborations with IAI members and leadership.

This briefing, prepared by the permanent representative of Paraguay for the thirty-third meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), proposes that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) be invited to become an Associate of the Institute. The document outlines the WMO's regional and global roles in climate cooperation and details its existing collaborative activities with the IAI since 2022.

The document, prepared by Paraguay for the 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Asunción, argues that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) meets the criteria under Article XI of the IAI Agreement to become an Associate. It highlights the WMO's regional presence in the Americas, its global leadership in climate cooperation through the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), and a history of collaboration with the IAI since 2022, including joint research on health, climate, and drought management.

The study evaluates four precipitation datasets in Bolivia, finding that the Combined Scheme (CoSch) provides the highest correlation and most accurate representation of surface observations. While CFSR and MERRA overestimated light to moderate rainfall and underestimated heavy precipitation, TRMM3B42 and CoSch showed more realistic distributions over the Amazon and Andes.

The Nature-Based Infrastructure (NBI) Global Resource Centre assessed the economic viability of nature-based interventions in Costa Rica's Reventazón River basin. The analysis indicates that a pilot project involving reforestation, agroforestry, and contoured croplands would yield a net benefit of USD 3.17 million, with a return of USD 1.23 for every dollar invested. A scaled-up, basin-wide approach is estimated to generate a net benefit of USD 6.31 million over 30 years.

The document is a map-based fact sheet detailing the geographic, ecological, and socio-economic characteristics of the lower Winnipeg River basin (LWRB) and the broader Winnipeg River basin (WRB) in Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota. It includes data on land cover, surficial geology, zoning policies, Indigenous presence, and drinking water advisories.

The study models the impact of climate change and mining on the Chindwin River, finding that future climate scenarios are likely to reduce streamflow and associated metal loading, while identifying specific river segments with the highest concentrations of arsenic, mercury, and iron.

The report details the first phase of an Arctic Council project led by the CAFF Working Group, focusing on the inventory and scientific review of Arctic wetlands. It emphasizes the role of these environments in biodiversity, hydrology, and carbon storage, while highlighting the necessity of integrating indigenous knowledge into wetland management to counter historical misconceptions of wetlands as wastelands.

The report identifies that while the total volume of water in the Indus River Basin may not change significantly in the near term, climate change will likely alter the timing and variability of peak flows due to unpredictable monsoon patterns. It highlights a critical lack of hydrological knowledge regarding the Upper Indus Basin and warns that per capita water scarcity will increase due to rising demand, regardless of climate change. Key recommendations include modernizing streamflow monitoring, establishing a water data repository, and promoting sustainable irrigation for smallholder farmers.

The IAI Science Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) report outlines strategic recommendations to improve the visibility, engagement, and financing of science-policy linkages. It details a December 2016 workshop in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where researchers and decision-makers collaborated on five thematic areas: health and diseases, land use and hydrology, weather forecasting and early warning, coastal and marine management, and urban monitoring. The report advocates for increased IAI Directorate capacity, specifically in outreach and fundraising, and suggests strengthening participation in international conventions and private sector engagement to enhance the application of scientific data in regional governance.

The report outlines the SPAC's efforts to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and decision-making in the Americas. It provides strategic recommendations for the IAI regarding visibility, policy engagement, and financing, while detailing the outcomes of a multi-sectoral workshop in Argentina that integrated scientific research on health, coasts, land use, weather forecasting, and urban environments into local governance.

The report details the conclusion of the Small Grants Program for Cooperative Research in the Americas (SGP-CRA) and the ongoing progress of the Third Cooperative Research Networks Program (CRN3). It highlights the mobilization of US$ 26 million from an initial US$ 2.75 million investment in SGP-CRA and the implementation of 17 multidisciplinary networks under CRN3. Key achievements include the influence of research on legislation in Argentina, the development of hurricane forecasting for Baja California, and the creation of a coastal risk decision tool for 25 Caribbean countries. The report also notes the start of the CONICET-IAI partnership and the development of the Inter-American Forum for Global Change Research Cooperation to expand multilateral funding.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) evaluates the implementation of an interdisciplinary research model combining natural and social sciences to create policy-relevant solutions in the Americas. The report highlights the success of specific projects, such as meteorological data compilation for crop yield modelling and ecosystem service vulnerability assessments. However, the SAC identifies a critical lack of regional data infrastructure to serve decision-makers and the public. Key recommendations include integrating social scientists from the start of projects, establishing a regional data services framework, and improving capacity building through interdisciplinary workshops.

The IAI Executive Committee has established an ad hoc committee to draft terms of reference for a new Advisory Committee on Science-Policy Liaison, aimed at integrating global change science into decision-making. The EC is also exploring strategies to increase member country involvement and funding, including reviewing the IAI Strategic Plan. Additionally, the IAI participated in the ENSOCIO-LA consortium to foster EU-Latin American cooperation on climate change and resource efficiency, and co-organized a World Climate Research Program (WCRP) conference in Montevideo to define a regional research agenda for climate services.

The report examines the vulnerability of Asia's High Mountains (AHM) to climate change, highlighting risks from glacial melt, extreme weather, and water scarcity. It details the varying responses of mountain ranges—such as the retreat of most glaciers in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya versus stability in the Karakorum—and analyzes the resulting threats to human health, agriculture, and infrastructure. The document evaluates current adaptation strategies, including livelihood diversification and community-based water management, while identifying critical data gaps in permafrost and groundwater storage. It concludes with recommendations for regional cooperation in disaster risk management and the synchronization of national and local climate policies.

The study uses the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) platform to model the Tuolumne and Merced River Basins, finding that temperature increases of 2°C to 6°C shift hydrology timing earlier by 5–21 days and increase agricultural water demands by up to 5.8%, leading to a decrease in surface water reliability for agriculture from 0.84–0.90 to 0.75–0.79 under the 6°C scenario.

The IAI report details the conclusion of the second round of Cooperative Research Networks (CRNII) and the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), highlighting research on land-use change in the Plata Basin and biodiversity in the tropical Andes. It outlines new NSF-funded grants for 2012-2018, various regional capacity-building workshops on climate and health, and efforts to communicate findings at UNFCCC events. The report also documents severe administrative instability in Brazil, including personnel contract irregularities and disputes with the Brazilian tax administration.

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 IAI is transitioning toward a 'Center of Excellence' model for water security, headquartered at the University of Arizona and the Universidad Católica de Santiago, to better integrate transdisciplinary research on hydrology and climate. Scientific synthesis has highlighted that biophysical changes in land use, such as albedo and evapotranspiration, are as critical as biogeochemical effects. The Institute has expanded its capacity-building through training institutes in Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, focusing on seasonal climate predictions and urban responses to climate change. Administratively, the IAI faces significant instability due to personnel contracting issues in Brazil and a lack of official response from the Brazilian government regarding host country agreement amendments, leading the Executive Board to seek alternative host countries.

The IAI Directorate Report for 2011 details the transition toward establishing 'Centers of Excellence' for water security, the synthesis of research on land-use and climate interactions, and the implementation of regional training institutes. It highlights scientific findings on the importance of climate volatility over long-term trends and the role of biophysical changes in land-use. The report also addresses significant operational challenges in Brazil, including staffing instability and unresolved host country agreement amendments, while noting renewed financial and political engagement from several member countries.