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The document advocates for the repeal of conventional biofuel subsidies, citing the high cost of the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) and the environmental and economic damages caused by the Renewable Fuel Standard. It highlights that corn ethanol can result in higher net carbon dioxide emissions than gasoline and contributes to global food price increases by diverting crops from food production to fuel.

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 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.

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 document highlights a critical gap between the economic value derived from Uganda's natural resources and the minimal budgetary support allocated to their preservation. It notes that Uganda's forests are disappearing at twice the rate of sub-Saharan Africa, driven by high population growth and a heavy reliance on biomass for over 90% of energy needs. The author details a trend of 'degazetting' protected lands for industrial and agricultural use, citing conflicts in Namanve Forest Reserve, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, and the Mabira forest. The document warns that the discovery of oil in protected areas, including the Greater Virunga Transfrontier Park, further escalates the risk of conflict between the state and civil society.

The report finds that beef production accounts for approximately 2.2% of total U.S. global warming emissions. While improving forage quality could reduce methane emissions from pasture beef by 15% to 30%, the overall impact on U.S. emissions would be less than 0.5%. However, well-managed pastures offer significant carbon sequestration potential, potentially offsetting 0.1% to 2% of annual U.S. heat-trapping emissions. The document compares pasture-finishing systems with confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), noting that while CAFOs often have higher feed efficiency, pastures generally sequester more carbon. The author recommends that the USDA expand research into nutritious pasture crops and provide incentive payments for best management practices.

The report advocates for Zero Net Deforestation and Forest Degradation (ZNDD) by 2020 to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Using the Living Forests Model developed with IIASA, it analyzes various scenarios, including a 'Do Nothing' baseline and a 'Target' scenario. The findings suggest that while ZNDD is technically possible in the short term, maintaining it beyond 2030 will require unprecedented increases in agricultural productivity and significant shifts in global consumption patterns, particularly regarding animal calories. The document highlights critical trade-offs, such as the risk of shifting environmental pressure to non-forest biomes like grasslands and the potential for increased agricultural pollution due to intensification.

The document discusses how the AGF's goal of mobilising US$100 billion annually by 2020 for climate-resilient development affects Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing the need for private sector frameworks, public sector catalysis of investment, and the protection of regional development and adaptation needs.

The report challenges the 'miracle crop' narrative of jatropha, presenting ten reasons why industrial-scale plantations fail. It argues that jatropha requires fertile land, significant water, and chemical inputs to be productive, contradicting claims that it thrives on marginal land. This leads to competition with food production, displacement of local communities, and biodiversity loss. Economically, the report highlights a pattern of failed investment projects and unrealistic yield promises. Environmentally, it asserts that land-use change for jatropha can increase carbon emissions, undermining its purpose as a climate solution.

The document outlines ten reasons why jatropha is an unsustainable investment, noting that yields are often lower than claimed and the crop requires significant water and fertile land rather than thriving on marginal soils. It highlights negative impacts including the displacement of local communities, loss of biodiversity, and competition with food production. The text concludes that large-scale plantations are not economically viable and may increase greenhouse gas emissions due to land-use change.

The document outlines the necessity of increasing climate investment in Africa, emphasizing the immediate need for public concessional funding for development and the role of private investment in low-carbon energy. It discusses the volatility of revenue sources tied to carbon prices, the need to compensate African countries for increased trade costs from international transport levies, and the requirement for carbon market reforms, including the inclusion of land-use change emissions, to attract investment.

The document outlines Africa's high vulnerability to climate change and its significant investment gaps in adaptation and mitigation. It evaluates the AGF's proposal to mobilise US$100 billion annually by 2020, highlighting potential public funding sources like carbon taxes and fossil fuel subsidy redirection, while stressing the need for grants for adaptation and regulatory reforms to attract private investment in carbon markets.

The document analyzes Asia's climate investment requirements, estimating annual mitigation needs at US$90–180 billion and adaptation costs at US$40–45 billion by 2030. It argues that while private finance can drive mitigation in major economies like China and India, public resources are essential for adaptation and for less developed countries. The briefing highlights opportunities in carbon markets and public-private leveraging, but warns that the Copenhagen Accord's US$100 billion target is insufficient for Asia's needs and that transport or financial transaction levies could negatively impact Asian trade and financial hubs.

The document highlights the LAC region's specific climate finance needs, noting a high proportion of emissions from land-use change and adaptation requirements per person that exceed those of Africa and Asia. It emphasizes the need for public sector catalysis of private investment, particularly in forestry and agribusiness, and cautions that existing official development assistance patterns may leave the region with insufficient adaptation resources.

The document outlines the climate finance requirements for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, estimating annual mitigation needs between US$40–80 billion and adaptation needs between US$18–21 billion by 2030. It highlights the region's unique emissions profile, where land-use change is the primary driver of greenhouse gases, particularly in South America. The briefing argues that the AGF's recommendations for public-private partnerships and carbon-based revenue sources offer significant opportunities, provided that the region secures an equitable share of adaptation grants and establishes a robust framework for reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+).

The document examines how the AGF's goal of mobilising US$100 billion annually can support SIDS, noting that while public grants are essential for adaptation, private capital can be leveraged for mitigation. It highlights risks such as the impact of international transport levies on trade and tourism, and the potential for non-LDC SIDS to be underserved by existing aid patterns.

The research paper evaluates the trade-offs between carbon storage and timber extraction in Central American tropical forests using Net Present Value (NPV) analysis. It finds that while timber is more profitable on a face-value basis, the attractiveness of forest conservation is highly dependent on carbon pricing and discount rates. The author argues that incorporating co-benefits and sustainable forestry management is essential for making conservation economically competitive with timber harvesting.

The research evaluates the economic impact of forest area changes from 2000 to 2050, focusing on provisioning, regulating, and cultural services. Using a combination of market data, meta-analysis, and value transfer, the study finds that while managed forests may increase provisioning revenues, the loss of natural forests—particularly in tropical and boreal biomes—leads to significant welfare losses, primarily driven by the loss of carbon sequestration capacity. Brazil is projected to suffer the highest economic loss, potentially reaching 6% of its 2050 GDP.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) planned a series of training institutes and science programs between July 2010 and June 2011, focusing on seasonal climate predictions, urban responses to climate change, and biodiversity in the Andes. Key initiatives included a MacArthur Foundation project to assess research and institutional needs for Andean biodiversity and a research internship program with IAI-INPE/CPTEC.