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This briefing documents the action items and decisions made during the 25th Executive Council (CE) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on November 28-29, 2007, in Arlington, Virginia.

The Report of the IAI Directorate provides an update on the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research's science programs, international cooperations, country relations, and training initiatives as of November 2007. It details the transition from the CRN I program to CRN II, the administration of Small Grants for Human Dimensions, and various funding proposals submitted to the MacArthur Foundation and IDRC. The report also outlines efforts to resolve budget contribution arrears in Guatemala and Uruguay and plans for several training institutes focused on information management, climate risk, and urban responses to climate change.

The minutes of the Twenty-Fourth Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), held in Manaus, Brazil, from June 12-15, 2007, detail the administrative, financial, and scientific progress of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. Key discussions focused on the transition of research networks, the implementation of a new strategic planning process, and efforts to improve member country engagement and funding stability.

Minutes from the 24th meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Manaus, Brazil, from June 12-15, 2007. The meeting focused on scientific program updates, financial budgeting, strategic planning, and governance reforms.

The document records the decisions made during the Fourteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14-15, 2007. The meeting focused on administrative governance, budget approvals, and the appointment of key personnel and committees.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted a report on June 6, 2007, detailing proposed amendments to the Conference of the Parties (CoP) Rules of Procedure. These proposals aim to clarify party representation, refine the election process for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and update administrative procedures regarding meeting actions and resolutions.

The Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures of the IAI reports on proposed regulatory changes to improve party representation, the selection process for the Scientific Advisory Committee, and the administrative handling of CoP meetings and resolutions.

The document is a report of the 24th Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), held from December 6-8, 2006, in Cuernavaca, Mexico. The meeting focused on transitioning IAI science from individual projects to research programs, improving the societal relevance of Global Environmental Change (GEC) research, and strategic planning for the institution's future.

This report presents the findings of an external review conducted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) on the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The review evaluates the IAI's performance across its first 13 years, focusing on its scientific research, capacity building, funding, governance, and communication strategies.

The document is a list of participants for the 14th IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) Meeting and a Science Symposium held in Manaus, Brazil, on June 14-15, 2007. It lists representatives from various countries including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the United States, and Venezuela, as well as IAI directorate staff, external review committee members, and local staff from the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA).

This briefing by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) analyzes the 2006 WTO panel reports in the EC-Biotech dispute, specifically focusing on the panel's refusal to integrate Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) into the interpretation of WTO law. The author argues that the panel's narrow interpretation of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties deviates from previous Appellate Body jurisprudence, such as the US-Shrimp case, and undermines the principle of 'mutual supportiveness' between trade and environmental policies.

The IAI Directorate Report (May 2006 - May 2007) outlines the institute's efforts to integrate global change science with policy, particularly regarding land-use change and biofuels in the La Plata Basin and Central Brazil. It details various international collaborations (e.g., with IDRC, NCAR, and SCOPE), the implementation of Collaborative Research Networks (CRN I and II), and the results of the Training Institute Seed Grants (TISG) program, which supported 44 scientists across 19 countries. The report also highlights fundraising efforts, including a proposal to the MacArthur Foundation for assessing climate change impacts on biodiversity in the Andes.

The minutes of the Twenty-Third Meeting of the IAI Executive Council (EC), held on December 9-10, 2006, in Panama City, detail the strategic shift of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research toward interdisciplinary science and policy relevance. The meeting covered the closure of the CRN I program, the launch of CRN II, the creation of a Small Grant Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and efforts to broaden the IAI's institutional base through alliances with organizations like RIOCC and IICA. Financial discussions focused on member country contribution arrears and the appointment of a new Administrative and Financial Officer.

The document contains the minutes of the 23rd Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 9-10, 2006, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on strategic institutional expansion, the transition between the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) I and II programs, financial status, and the scientific reorientation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to better integrate human dimensions and policy relevance.

Minutes of the Thirteenth Meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP), held May 23-24, 2006, in Porlamar, Venezuela, detailing organizational decisions, budget approvals, and scientific reports on global change research in the Americas.

The document contains the minutes of the 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-XIII) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on May 23-24, 2006, in Porlamar, Venezuela. The meeting focused on organizational elections, the approval of the 2006-2007 operating budget and country contributions, and the strategic direction of the IAI's scientific agenda, including the implementation of a 'network of networks' to integrate regional research projects.

This report examines how the consolidation and increased market power of global supermarket chains affect global supply chains, specifically focusing on the challenges and opportunities for smallholder farmers in the developing world, with a particular emphasis on the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

This document is an order from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) regarding a petition by five non-governmental organizations to participate as amicus curiae in the case of Suez, Sociedad General de Aguas de Barcelona, S.A., and Vivendi Universal S.A. v. The Argentine Republic. The Tribunal grants the petition, allowing the organizations to make a joint submission based on the public interest nature of the dispute, while denying their request for unrestricted access to arbitration documents.

This document is a list of action items from the 24th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Manaus, Brazil, from June 12-15, 2007. It details administrative approvals, the creation of ad hoc commissions for strategic planning and personnel evaluation, and budget approvals.

This scoping paper, produced for the Trade Ministers’ Dialogue on Climate Change Issues in 2007, examines the multifaceted linkages between trade, investment, and climate change. It analyzes how trade policies influence greenhouse gas emissions, the legal interactions between WTO and UNFCCC frameworks, the physical risks climate change poses to trade infrastructure, and the competitiveness implications of climate regulations.