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The document analyzes the draft IPR chapter of the FTAA, noting that while some options allow nations to limit patents on living creatures, no proposal explicitly prohibits them. It highlights a trend toward tightening IPR protections, including US proposals to mandate UPOV for plant protection and the removal of language promoting technology transfer and transparency, which the author argues harms development concerns.

The paper analyzes the convergence of human rights and environmental law, arguing that a healthy environment is a prerequisite for the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. It explores legal tools within the Inter-American System—such as precautionary measures, admissibility exceptions, and state responsibility for third-party actions—to address environmental degradation. Through a comparative analysis of jurisprudence from the Inter-American, African, and European systems, the author demonstrates how rights to life, integrity, property, and information are increasingly interpreted to include environmental dimensions, emphasizing the state's duty of due diligence to prevent harm from industrial activities.

The UNEP Compendium documents the intersection of human rights and environmental law through a curated selection of global and regional instruments and judicial decisions. It analyzes how substantive rights (such as the rights to life, health, and property) and procedural rights (access to information, public participation, and access to justice) are used to address environmental degradation. The document highlights the 'greening' of human rights law, where tribunals increasingly interpret existing rights to encompass environmental protections, particularly for indigenous peoples and marginalized groups. It also details state obligations regarding industrial pollution and natural resource extraction, emphasizing duties of prevention, regulation, and the requirement for free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) for indigenous communities.

The IAI will support the Belmont Forum's Pathways to Sustainability CRA through network building, capacity building in transdisciplinary approaches, and coordination of in-kind resources from its 19 member Parties in the Americas, despite providing no direct funding for this phase.

The course aims to strengthen public sector capacity to adapt to environmental determinants of health in the Americas. It focuses on transdisciplinary (TD) research, which involves collaborative co-development between researchers, policymakers, and affected communities to create effective public policies. The curriculum consists of five modules covering TD research definitions, knowledge co-production, project design, team management, and grant writing, supplemented by five scientific communication sessions. Participants are expected to dedicate approximately 40 hours to the material and must pass a final assessment with a score of 70% or higher to receive a certificate.

The course aims to strengthen public sector capacity to adapt to environmental determinants of health in the Americas. It focuses on transdisciplinary (TD) research, which integrates knowledge from multiple disciplines and stakeholders—including policy-makers and affected communities—to create solution-oriented public policies. The curriculum consists of five modules covering TD research definitions, implementation, design, teamwork management, and grant writing, supplemented by five science communication sessions. Participants are expected to dedicate 40 hours to the material and must score 70% or higher on a final 20-question quiz to receive a certificate.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG), and the Degrees Initiative are organizing a three-part workshop series for policymakers in the Americas. The program focuses on solar radiation modification (SRM), specifically stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) and marine cloud brightening (MCB), to address the knowledge gap between the Global North and South. The series includes two virtual workshops and one in-person simulation to help participants develop national and regional positions for international forums like UNEA and the UNFCCC.

The IAI Directorate Report covers the period from July 2016 to May 2017, focusing on the implementation of transdisciplinary research and capacity building across the Americas. Key activities include the management of the Third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3), the development of Professional Development Seminars (PDS), and the establishment of a Science-Policy Liaison Directorate (SPLD) to bridge the gap between scientific findings and governmental decision-making. The report also highlights IAI's engagement with international conventions such as the UNFCCC and CBD, and the launch of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on climate change impacts in Latin America.

The IAI report covers its progress in transdisciplinary research, the implementation of the Third Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3) program, and the development of professional seminars to bridge the gap between science and policy in the Americas. Key achievements include the launch of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on climate change impacts in Latin America and the establishment of a science-policy liaison office in Buenos Aires to systematize the impact of IAI research on regional governance.

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 IAI is implementing a policy to mainstream gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research funding and working environments. Key activities include providing scholarships for early-career professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean, integrating EDI into science diplomacy training, and supporting projects like 'Women as Guardians of Biodiversity and Climate Resilience in Andean Peatlands'. The IAI's framework has also served as the basis for the Belmont Forum's own DEIA policy development.

The Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is a regional initiative launched by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to strengthen the interface between science and policy in the Americas. The Center aims to provide government officials and experts with the tools and knowledge necessary to address transboundary global change challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss, through multinational collaboration and capacity building.

The Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is a regional initiative established by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to foster collaboration between scientists and policymakers across the Americas. Its primary goal is to provide government officials and experts with robust scientific information to address complex, transboundary challenges related to global change, including climate change, biodiversity, and water resources. The SDC aims to act as a regional resource for capacity building, research, and the exchange of best practices in science diplomacy. Its strategic objectives include developing a science diplomacy knowledge center, creating training curricula for policymakers and diplomats, and convening diverse stakeholders to promote evidence-based decision-making and international cooperation.

The document reviews the first decade of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), highlighting its success in establishing multinational, multidisciplinary research networks and capacity building. It identifies a gap between academic scientific output and the practical needs of policymakers, suggesting that the IAI must prioritize the synthesis of information into viable recommendations and increase the involvement of decision-makers in setting research priorities to secure more consistent government support.

The Mexican government, via the Instituto Nacional de Ecología, proposes three primary research lines for the IAI: integrated assessments of climate variability and its impacts on health, agriculture, tourism, and ecosystems; the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in the energy and forestry sectors; and the study of co-benefits from reducing local and global emissions on human health and urban ecosystems.

The document provides the curriculum for Sessions 3 and 4 of a Pan American course on climate-resilient health systems. Session 3 focuses on assessing vulnerability and 'climate stress testing' for health facilities, while Session 4 covers the adaptation process, including the roles of key stakeholders and the development of adaptation strategies.

The document provides the curriculum for two training sessions focused on health system decarbonization and climate resilience. Session 7 focuses on greenhouse gas emissions scopes, life-cycle analysis, and emission reduction opportunities. Session 8 focuses on defining climate-resilient, low-carbon, and carbon-neutral health systems, utilizing the WHO framework and indicators for monitoring and evaluation across key areas such as financing, workforce, and governance.

The document specifies the learning goals for 'SESSION 9: EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATING CLIMATE CHANGE RISKS TO HEALTH', focusing on the role of communication in driving behavioral changes for adaptation and GHG mitigation, the use of audience segmentation and message tailoring, and the impact of such communications on mental health.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is an intergovernmental organization serving 19 member states in the Americas. It focuses on transdisciplinary research and the science-policy interface to address global change issues. Key initiatives include a program at the nexus of health, climate, and environment, a global funding call for Amazonia and tropical forests via the Belmont Forum, and the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) fellowship program for early career researchers.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Belmont Forum are coordinating the Collaborative Research Action (CRA) on Climate, Environment and Health (CEH). The first round of CEH funding, launched in 2019, provided over 12 million euros and in-kind contributions from 13 funding agencies across 10 countries to support 9 projects involving 69 researchers from 20 countries. A second round of funding (CEH2) is currently being developed through a scoping process involving virtual workshops in the Americas from July to September 2021 to identify science and funding priorities.