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The report details the inception phase of the Swedish International Agricultural Network Initiative (SIANI), initiated by Sida. A scoping assessment involving 142 people from 91 organizations identified significant sectoral fragmentation and a decline in the recognition of agricultural competence within Swedish development cooperation. The document outlines four controversial key issues: agricultural systems for the 21st century, trade and markets, land use conflicts, and food safety and security. To address these, it proposes a network structure featuring six key functions, including facilitating inter-sectoral initiatives and providing policy implementation feedback. The proposed design includes Cluster Groups, a Steering Committee, and a Secretariat, utilizing implementing mechanisms such as Strategic Initiatives and Dialogues on Sustainable Agricultural Development to operationalize the Policy for Global Development (PGD) in Sweden.

The report examines how Romania can use a Green Investment Scheme (GIS) to invest proceeds from the sale of approximately 100 million surplus Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) into climate-related projects. It specifically evaluates land-use activities, such as the reforestation of 'cut-not-regenerated' forests and fast-growing woody crops, and bioenergy projects, including the rehabilitation of district heating systems. The analysis compares GIS with Joint Implementation (JI), arguing that GIS is better suited for land-use projects due to lower transaction costs, more flexible monitoring, and the ability to address high upfront investments and delayed returns.

The report assesses Green Investment Schemes (GIS) as a carbon finance mechanism to unlock surplus Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). It argues that GIS can overcome the failures of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Joint Implementation (JI) by targeting high-priority, long-term mitigation areas such as building energy efficiency and bioenergy. The authors recommend using programmatic approaches, simplified monitoring and verification (M&V), and extending crediting periods beyond 2012 to ensure the bankability of infrastructure projects. The report estimates the potential value of transacted AAUs at approximately €9 billion and highlights the importance of additionality to maintain environmental integrity.

The 28th SAC meeting in Miami reviewed the status of IAI's Cooperative Research Networks (CRN II) and Small Grants Programme for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), emphasizing the need for better scientific integration across projects and increased institutional visibility. Key discussions included the development of a Latin American optical phenology network, the creation of science-society interaction proposals, and the importance of translating scientific achievements into policy briefs.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on the second year of the CRN II projects and the first year of the SGP-HD program, highlighting achievements in biodiversity monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and high-profile scientific recognition, including the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize for several affiliated researchers. The report details the establishment of a phenology monitoring network in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and the launch of a MacArthur Foundation-funded project on Andean biodiversity. It also outlines capacity-building efforts through joint colloquia and training institutes focused on climate change adaptation in Latin America.

The report assesses Green Investment Schemes (GIS) as a hybrid carbon finance mechanism in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) that combines the sale of Assigned Amount Units (AAUs) with domestic greening activities. It argues that GIS can address mitigation priorities that other mechanisms, such as Joint Implementation (JI) and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), have failed to deliver, particularly in building energy efficiency and small-scale bioenergy. The authors emphasize that because the window for these transactions closes in 2012, GIS should prioritize long-term, low-carbon infrastructure and high-additionality projects rather than lowest-cost measures. Key recommendations include adopting simplified monitoring and verification (M&V) processes, allowing post-2012 fund disbursement, and utilizing a programmatic approach to reduce transaction costs for small-scale investments.

The paper examines the 2006 campaign to save the Mabira Forest in Uganda, where the government proposed giving 7,100 hectares of the reserve to the Mehta Group for sugarcane cultivation. It details how a coalition of civil society, religious institutions, and legal experts used environmental laws and public mobilization to stop the proposal. The author argues that the campaign succeeded by framing the environmental issue as a broader failure of governance and accountability, leveraging the 1995 Constitution's recognition of the right to a healthy environment and the 2005 Access to Information Act.

The 27th SAC meeting in Toronto focused on the transition of leadership, with Juan Valdés and Maria Carmen Lemos appointed as President and Vice President. The committee established three specialized commissions to manage the science-policy interface, science integration, and governance. Key operational updates included the launch of an IDRC project on land use and biofuels, the planning of a colloquium on water resources in Mendoza, and the development of a science-policy proposal for CRN II projects. The SAC also prioritized improving the IAI's communication strategies and reaffirmed its commitment to scientific excellence and the development of the next generation of global change scientists within its strategic plan.

The document introduces a study designed to evaluate public support for traditionally designed communities—characterized by mixed residential and commercial land uses and pedestrian connectivity—as an alternative to the dominant suburban development model.

The document examines the Lao PDR's silk handicrafts sector, noting its potential for sustainable growth through 'green' niche markets but highlighting risks related to wastewater and land use as production scales up. It emphasizes the need for quality certification and improved water management to maintain the sector's competitive advantage.

The report provides an overview of ecotourism in Laos, highlighting its growth from 14,000 visitors in 1990 to 1.12 million in 2006. It analyzes the National Ecotourism Strategy and Action Plan (2005-2010) and identifies key barriers to sustainable growth, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited human resources, and the need for better coordination between government and non-governmental actors. The text emphasizes the role of ecotourism in poverty reduction and conservation, particularly in protected areas like Nam Ha.

The briefing assesses the East Sudan Peace Agreement (ESPA) signed in October 2006 between the government of Sudan and the Eastern Front. While the agreement ended ten years of hostilities, its implementation is hindered by a lack of clear modalities, the absence of international guarantors, and significant disputes over ethnic representation. In Gedaref State, tensions are high because the Eastern Front primarily represents the Hadendowa, Rashaida, and Beni Amir, who are marginal in Gedaref's population. Fieldwork in Gedaref reveals that while 71.7% of interviewed community leaders are satisfied that the ESPA ended the conflict, many view the power-sharing arrangements as unjust and non-inclusive of the state's diverse ethnic groups, including the Shukriya and migrants from Western Sudan. The document warns that these inequities could lead to tribal polarisation or a return to armed conflict if the government does not ensure more equitable wealth and power distribution.

The IAI is managing the closure of its CRN I program and the implementation of CRN II and Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), while seeking new funding from the MacArthur Foundation and IDRC. The institute is expanding its regional network through collaborations with entities like IGBP, IUCN, and CEPAL, and is focusing on capacity building through research internships and specialized training institutes on climate risk, water management, and urban responses. Efforts to secure operational budget contributions from member countries like Guatemala and Uruguay are ongoing.

The IAI's 2007-2008 program focuses on implementing the human dimensions program (SGP-HD), expanding the CRN II network with climate and ocean linkages, and pursuing funding for Andean biodiversity and rural development. Key operational goals include developing a Strategic Plan, organizing a colloquium with NCAR, and conducting training on river use in semi-arid regions of Brazil.

The IAI's 2007-2008 annual plan focuses on launching the SGP-HD human dimensions program, expanding the CRN II network through ocean and climate projects, and developing a new Strategic Plan. Key planned activities include a proposal to evaluate climate change impacts on Andean biodiversity, a training institute on multi-use rivers in semi-arid regions of Brazil, and a summer school on land-use reaction strategies in Latin America.

The document proposes the creation of an Environment Outlook for Canada (EOC), an integrated environmental assessment designed to move beyond traditional state-of-the-environment reporting by focusing on future-oriented scenarios. It details the potential scope of the EOC, including key topical issues like climate change and water quality, and suggests a time horizon of 20 to 30 years. The paper emphasizes the need for a participatory process involving policy-makers, shapers, and takers to ensure the assessment is salient, credible, and legitimate. It recommends a feasibility analysis and the development of a formal proposal by fall 2007, suggesting that the EOC could be hosted by an independent secretariat to maintain credibility.

The IAI's central budget request for 2007/2008 is US$1,014,931, maintaining a stable funding level compared to previous years. The budget supports the administration of the CRN II program, the implementation of the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD) with a US$800,000 budget, and the development of a new Strategic Plan to link science with policy. Key financial adjustments include proposed salary increases for international staff to offset the loss of purchasing power caused by inflation and exchange rate fluctuations in Brazil. Member contributions are led by the United States (US$595,000) and Canada (US$125,000).

The research demonstrates that transitioning from an average UK diet to one based on nutritional recommendations can reduce the Ecological Footprint by 22%. Further reductions are possible through vegetarianism, sourcing local food, and choosing organic produce, with a 'best diet' combining all four criteria achieving a 44% reduction. The study also highlights the high environmental burden of livestock production and the potential for school meal programs, such as Scotland's 'Hungry for Success', to provide both health and environmental benefits.

The document advocates for wind power as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels and nuclear energy, particularly in New England. It details the severe environmental and health costs of conventional energy—including CO2 emissions, air pollution, water consumption, and land degradation—while positioning wind energy as a low-impact solution with minimal land footprints and no operational emissions.

The document outlines the potential for wind energy in New England, emphasizing that the region has "excellent wind resources, particularly on mountain ridges and along the coast." It details the criteria for optimal siting—primarily wind speed, topography, and proximity to transmission lines—and highlights economic benefits such as tax revenues for towns and lease payments for landowners. The text addresses environmental concerns, noting that modern turbines cause significantly fewer bird fatalities than other human structures and that wind power does not reduce property values. It also discusses human impacts, including visual aesthetics, noise, and aviation lighting, while noting that 81 percent of surveyed Vermont residents find turbines "beautiful or acceptable."