Search Climate Insights Directory

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) provides a progress report to the Conference of the Parties (CoP) as of June 2015. The report emphasizes the IAI's unique interdisciplinary model combining social and natural sciences to create policy-relevant solutions, while highlighting a critical regional lack of data infrastructure and the need for better integration of social scientists from the start of research projects.

The Terms of Reference for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) establish a nine-member expert body tasked with bridging the gap between scientific research and policy-making. Established in June 2013, the SPAC advises the IAI on improving the policy relevance of its programs, defining strategic themes, and fostering dialogue between scientists and decision-makers, while maintaining a neutral stance that prohibits lobbying.

The document outlines the Terms of Reference for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). Established by the 21st Conference of the Parties in June 2013, the SPAC is designed to advise the IAI's Executive Directorate and Conference of the Parties on enhancing the policy relevance of the Institute's scientific programs and facilitating dialogue between researchers and decision-makers.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in December 2014, provides an overview of regional and international grievance and advocacy mechanisms available to indigenous peoples and local communities. It categorizes these tools into UN human rights systems, regional human rights systems, international and regional financial institutions, industry-specific standards, and other advocacy opportunities, detailing eligibility, processes, and potential barriers for each.

The minutes of the 38th Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on August 14, 2014, in Mexico City, detail the election of the EC Bureau, the establishment of guidelines for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), and the drafting of a statement on climate change adaptation for the UNFCCC CoP-20.

The minutes of the Twenty-second IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP), held in Mexico City on August 13-14, 2014, detail the administrative, financial, and scientific governance of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. The meeting focused on implementing a tripartite governance structure across Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil, approving the 2014-2015 core budget, and establishing a new Science-Policy Liaison Advisory Committee (SPAC) to better translate scientific research into usable policy advice for member countries.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the relationship between disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation, arguing for a more integrated approach that addresses the underlying drivers of vulnerability and the wider context of social and economic development.

This fact sheet describes an initiative by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research to strengthen adaptive management capacity and water security in the arid Americas through science-policy dialogues and integrated assessments of surface and groundwater use.

The minutes of the 35th Executive Council (EC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 11, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay, detail the transition to a tripartite administrative structure, financial status, and the recommendation of new members for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

A statement from the Chair and members of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Science Advisory Committee (SAC) to the IAI Executive Council and Conference of the Parties (CoP) requesting the urgent appointment of new members to fill upcoming vacancies.

This report analyzes the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions embodied in international trade and explores whether shifting production to lower-intensity regions could reduce global emissions. Using MRIO models and IEA data, the authors find significant variations in GHG intensity for products like clothing (up to a factor of five) and steel. Specifically, Brazil and Turkey are highlighted as low-intensity steel producers due to their energy mixes and technologies. While shifting production to regions with better access to low-GHG energy (such as the Americas for steel) offers potential benefits, the report notes that implementing trade policies to steer these flows is complicated by WTO laws and administrative challenges.

This policy brief by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) argues that the success of the Rio+20 UN Conference on Sustainable Development depends on integrating a rights-based approach. It examines the historical evolution of human rights and environmental linkages from 1972 to 2002 and critiques the January 2012 Zero Draft of the Rio+20 outcome document for failing to recognize the fundamental right to a healthy environment.

The 2011 Report on Science Program by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the achievements of four scientific programs between May 2010 and April 2011. These include the Second Collaborative Research Network (CRNII), the Small Grants Program for the Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and a project on land use and biofuels in the La Plata Basin. The report emphasizes the integration of social and economic research into natural science to bridge the science-policy divide, highlighting impacts on urban pollution management, forest conservation, and agricultural risk reduction across the Americas.

The minutes of the 17th IAI Conference of the Parties (2010) detail the institute's struggle with a 1.75 million USD deficit due to unpaid member contributions, which hampered its scientific and administrative operations. Despite this, the CoP approved a 1.279 million USD budget for 2010-2011 and a new annual plan. The meeting focused on strategic planning for a new scientific program to replace CRN II, exploring REDD+ funding, and electing new members to the Scientific Advisory Committee and Executive Council. Member countries shared updates on national greenhouse gas inventories, adaptation strategies, and carbon neutrality goals.

This fact sheet describes the vulnerability of tropical dry forests in the Americas to global change, detailing trends in productivity and the critical need for expanded conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services.

This fact sheet describes the TRopi-dRy research network, which studies the human and biophysical dimensions of Tropical dry forests (TdFs) in the Americas to promote sustainable management.

This fact sheet describes project CRN2014, which investigates how land use and cover change (LUCC) and climate affect soil microorganisms, specifically arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), across temperate and tropical ecosystems in the Americas.

The DIVERSUS Collaborative Research Network is developing an interdisciplinary framework to analyze how land cover change (LCC) affects functional biodiversity, ecosystem properties, and the resulting ecosystem services that support human livelihoods across diverse environments from the tropics to the tundra.

The 2010 IAI Strategic Plan outlines the mission of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to enhance the understanding of global environmental change in the Americas. The document emphasizes a transition from curiosity-driven to needs-driven science, focusing on the integration of natural and social sciences to support informed policy-making and regional adaptation and mitigation efforts.

The minutes of the Twenty-Seventh Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), held on May 18, 2009, in Bogotá, Colombia, detail discussions on the institute's financial status, budgetary planning for FY 2009-2010, proposed amendments to the standing rules of the EC and Conference of the Parties (CoP), and the ongoing development of a strategic plan.