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The report documents WWF's half-century of cetacean conservation, emphasizing the transition from lethal research to non-invasive methods and the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration. Key achievements include the 1986 commercial whaling moratorium, the creation of the Ross Sea Marine Sanctuary, and the re-routing of shipping lanes in the Bay of Fundy. However, the report also highlights the critical failure to save the vaquita porpoise due to illegal gillnet fishing. It concludes by introducing the WWF Cetacean Global Initiative, focusing on bycatch, shipping, and critical habitat protection.

The document outlines the evolution of the IAI's Scientific Agenda, moving from seven initial research areas to four broad themes. It presents a revised version of these themes—covering climate variability, comparative ecosystem studies, chemical composition of the environment, and human dimensions—to be adopted by the Conference of the Parties.

This document is a report on the 26th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-26) to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Antigua, Guatemala, from 20 to 21 June 2018. It details the proceedings, administrative and financial discussions, and the adoption of 45 decisions concerning the IAI's strategic plan, funding, science-policy initiatives, and organizational structure.

The IAI Directorate reports the successful July 2018 merger of the Science-Policy Liaison Directorate (Buenos Aires) with the Integrated Operations and Finance Directorate, as mandated by Decision XXVI/19. The report notes that the establishment of a Science Development Office in Brazil was deemed unnecessary and that the transition occurred without service interruptions.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports the successful merger of the Science-Policy Interface Directorate operations from Buenos Aires, Argentina, into the Finance and Integrated Operations Directorate as of July 2018. This action follows Decision XXVI/19 from the 26th Conference of the Parties (CoP-26), which also led to the cancellation of the proposed Tripartite Headquarters for the IAI Directorate and the determination that a separate Scientific Development Directorate was unnecessary.

The report examines local content policies (LCPs) in the mining sector, specifically focusing on local procurement. It details how 'local' is defined through geography, value addition, and ownership, and outlines various demand-side and supply-side policy options. The document emphasizes that for these policies to succeed, they must be supported by pre-conditions such as capacity analysis, a conducive business climate, and strong monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.

The report argues that while cobalt and lithium are critical for the low-carbon transition, their current recycling rates are low—specifically less than 5% for lithium-ion batteries. It identifies barriers across the primary supply chain (such as conflict and child labour in the DRC), the recycling chain (inefficient collection and technical challenges), and regulatory environments (inapt definitions and ambiguous liability). The authors recommend enhancing eco-design, raising consumer awareness to reduce 'hibernation' of electronics, and updating regulatory frameworks to include clear definitions and meaningful recycling targets to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the circular economy.

The report examines the increasing engagement of UN human rights treaty bodies (HRTBs) with climate change, specifically analyzing their 2018 Concluding Observations (COBs), general comments, and thematic initiatives. It highlights a shift toward addressing a broader diversity of countries, including developed nations, and identifies a continuing emphasis on adaptation and procedural rights over mitigation. The document provides detailed syntheses of recommendations from the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), and the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), emphasizing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women, children, and persons with disabilities.

The report details how developing countries approach investment treaty negotiations, highlighting a trend toward renegotiating outdated agreements and the use of model treaties. It identifies the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and investment authorities as the primary leads in negotiations and provides a detailed mapping of ratification processes across various nations.

The document examines how the G20 has shifted from crisis management to a broader development focus, resulting in targeted engagements with Africa. It compares China's Industrialisation Initiative, which leveraged existing bilateral ties and focused on skills transfer, with Germany's Compact with Africa (CwA), a demand-driven model focusing on regulatory reforms to attract private investment. It also notes Argentina's approach of deepening diplomatic access for African representatives. The authors argue that while engagement has increased, Africa remains structurally excluded from global norm-setting and requires greater capacity and consistent representation within the G20 to influence global economic governance.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), in collaboration with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and Bolivian partners, applied the Gridded Meteorological Ensemble Tool (GMET) to generate daily climate grids for Bolivia and parts of neighbouring countries from 1980 to 2016. Using a database of over 400 stations, the project demonstrated GMET's ability to incorporate prediction errors and uncertainty into spatial precipitation and temperature data, though it found that satellite-based data remained necessary to fill gaps in data-sparse regions. The project included a technology transfer to train local experts and the release of the tool as open-source software.

The document advocates for the integration of communication rights into global development frameworks, specifically proposing a new UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 18) titled 'Communication for All'. It explores the philosophical basis of communication as an essential human need, examines how 'communication and information poverty' undermines existing SDGs—particularly regarding gender equality, ICT infrastructure, and peace and justice—and provides case studies on media restrictions and digital divides in Palestine, Gaza, and Ethiopia. Additionally, it discusses the role of community media for Indigenous Peoples and the use of communication to support memory and justice processes in Argentina.

Colombia is developing a National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for climate change adaptation to support its National Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change (PNACC). Initial efforts led to the creation of the National Indicator System for Adaptation to Climate Change (SNIACC), which identified 34 indicators across seven categories. However, the government is now redesigning the system to move beyond vulnerability tracking toward measuring the efficiency of adaptation actions, tracking NDC commitments, and integrating data across national and subnational levels.

Colombia has been developing a National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for climate change adaptation since 2014 as part of its National Adaptation Plan (PNACC). Initial efforts led to the creation of the National Adaptation Indicator System (SNIACC), which identified 34 indicators across seven categories. However, the country is now shifting toward a more strategic M&E approach that moves beyond vulnerability metrics to evaluate the management and impact of adaptation actions. Key lessons include the need for flexible, multi-scalar tools that can aggregate local data into national macroeconomic indicators and international reporting commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Future goals include institutionalizing M&E within the National Development Plan 2018-2022 and partnering with academia and statistical institutes to ensure data rigor.

The document examines the reciprocal relationship between climate change and land in Latin America, highlighting how land degradation and desertification threaten livelihoods and food security. It advocates for sustainable land management, integrated governance, and gender-equitable policies to enhance resilience and achieve climate goals.

The document details how human-induced climate change is altering ocean chemistry and temperature, accelerating sea-level rise, and melting high-mountain glaciers in Latin America. It emphasizes that while some changes are inevitable, urgent mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions is the primary way to limit future damage. The guide highlights the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems and high-mountain communities, arguing that early investment in disaster risk reduction and integrated governance is more cost-effective than future recovery.

The document outlines the impacts of human-induced climate change on the oceans and cryosphere in Latin America, focusing on ocean acidification, sea level rise, and the melting of Andean glaciers. It emphasizes that while some changes are inevitable, urgent mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and early investment in adaptation—such as nature-based solutions and improved disaster risk governance—can significantly reduce future costs and risks to human societies and ecosystems.

The document examines the reciprocal relationship between climate change and land in Latin America, highlighting how land degradation and desertification threaten food security and livelihoods. It advocates for sustainable land management, gender-inclusive policies, and integrated governance to mitigate climate risks and enhance regional resilience.

The Climate-Resilient Cities in Latin America Initiative (CRC) focused on small and medium-sized cities (50,000 to 1 million inhabitants) to bridge the gap between research and concrete climate action. The initiative emphasizes that while these cities are highly vulnerable to hydro-meteorological disasters, they offer significant opportunities for resilience due to their proximity scale. Key strategies included the co-generation of knowledge using both scientific data and citizen perceptions, the implementation of low-cost technological prototypes, and the integration of a gender perspective to address the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women. The report argues for a localization agenda where resilience is integrated into local development plans and supported by greater fiscal and administrative decentralization.

The document analyzes the CESCR's approach to climate change in 2018, noting that 42% of reviewed States received climate-related recommendations. While the Committee emphasizes mitigation and procedural rights, it has less focus on adaptation and has not yet addressed broader climate justice issues like international financial flows.