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The IAI Science Advisory Committee (SAC) is seeking nominations for two new members to be elected at the June 2015 CoP meeting in Lima, as the terms for Carolina Susana Vera and Harold A Mooney are expiring. The SAC specifies a need for expertise in 'Climate Change' and 'Biodiversity-Ecological Diversity and Ecosystem Valuation', while emphasizing the importance of academic excellence, international project management experience, and geographic, gender, and ethnic balance.

The National Designated Authority for Argentina has formally nominated the Unit for Rural Change, part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Stockbreeding and Fisheries, for accreditation to the Green Climate Fund.

The document outlines a pilot project by Natural Justice and partners to implement biocultural community protocols (BCPs) in four countries to safeguard community rights against extractive industries. It details specific regional efforts—addressing infrastructure and oil/gas/coal in Kenya, diamond mining in Zimbabwe, lithium mining in Argentina, and various mining forms in India—while identifying BCPs as tools for internal consensus and external rights assertion. The report highlights successes in community mobilization and challenges such as political will, safety threats, and the difficulty of defining 'community' in non-homogenous groups.

The document examines how integrating urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry (UPAF) into city planning can address climate change risks, food insecurity, and urban poverty. In Western Province, Sri Lanka, the focus is on rehabilitating abandoned paddy lands to reduce flood risks and intensifying home gardening to lower GHG emissions and improve nutrition. In Rosario, Argentina, the city is using UPAF to mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce 'food miles' and associated CO2 emissions, and manage storm water run-off. The report argues that subnational (provincial) government involvement is essential for scaling these interventions and integrating them into broader land-use and climate action plans.

The IAI activities plan for 2015-2016 focuses on completing a tripartite institutional structure across Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, while advancing interdisciplinary research and capacity building. Key initiatives include a small grants call on ecosystem services in adaptation, professional development seminars in Colombia and Panama, and the development of four global environmental change seminars for 2016-2018. The institute also continues its engagement with IPBES and the UNFCCC SBSTA process.

The BNDES serves as a national development bank that provides significant post-shipment credit to Latin America, primarily for infrastructure and capital goods. While the Brazilian government has promoted South-South integration, BNDES disbursements largely follow the dynamics of Brazilian trade and market demand. The bank faces criticism regarding the environmental and social sustainability of its projects and the high concentration of funding among a few large firms.

The document examines the integration of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and community-based adaptation (CbA) through the EU-funded EcoAdapt project. By utilizing the Model Forests approach in Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile, the project sought to develop long-term climate adaptation strategies for water resources. The integration aims to combine the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem services with the empowerment of local communities to identify their own needs. Key benefits identified include increased community ownership, a better understanding of socio-ecological interconnections, and a more holistic view of large-scale environmental processes. However, the project faced challenges such as waning community motivation, inclusive participation gaps—specifically with cattle ranchers in Bolivia—and instabilities within the public sector. The briefing concludes that successful up-scaling requires a socio-ecological systems approach, secure finance, supportive public policies, and the development of accessible tools for local actors.

The document defines energy poverty as a lack of sufficient alternatives to access adequate, affordable, and sustainable energy services, which hinders economic and human development. It highlights that 1.3 billion people lack electricity and 2.7 billion rely on biomass, leading to severe health issues. The author argues that energy poverty is both a cause and consequence of general poverty, creating a 'poverty trap' that requires specific policy interventions beyond general economic growth. The briefing notes that universal energy access by 2030 is financially feasible, requiring an annual investment of 30 to 35 billion dollars, which is significantly less than global fossil fuel subsidies.

The document critiques the 'financialization of nature,' where biodiversity is converted into financial assets and commodities. It argues that assigning prices to nature ignores its intrinsic value, marginalizes indigenous and local communities, and allows corporations to continue destructive activities through 'offsetting' mechanisms. The author calls for the protection of biodiversity through strong legislation and community-led governance rather than market-based instruments.

The document analyzes the evolving energy partnership between the US and South Africa, framed by the US's shift toward energy independence via shale gas and its 'Power Africa' initiative. While South Africa is interested in the US model for shale gas and renewables, the briefing argues that South Africa must remain cautious regarding hydraulic fracturing due to severe water constraints and infrastructure gaps. It highlights the US-South Africa Strategic Dialogue as a mechanism for cooperation on clean energy, carbon capture, and hydrocarbon development, while noting that US initiatives in Africa have targeted a limited number of countries.

The report examines performance-based specifications (PBSs), which define desired outputs rather than prescriptive inputs, as a tool for sustainable public procurement. While PBSs can drive innovation and circular economy models, they shift the public sector's burden to the evaluation and monitoring stages and require robust data and financial frameworks to succeed.

The document examines how urban and peri-urban agriculture and forestry (UPAF) are integrated into climate change action plans and the specific monitoring data required by city governments and international organisations to finance and implement these interventions. It highlights that climate change, combined with the loss of urban green cover, threatens infrastructure and quality of life, while rapid urban growth and climate-driven agricultural disruptions increase food insecurity for the urban poor.

The report examines Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture and Forestry (UPAF), defined as the production of trees, food, and other agricultural products within urban and peri-urban areas. It notes that while UPAF is expected to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation, there has been little analysis to determine which specific UPAF models are most effective for different city configurations.

The action list from the 38th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council details administrative decisions, the election of the Bureau, and the establishment of a committee to draft a pronouncement on adaptation for the UNFCCC CoP-20.

The document lists the actions and decisions taken during the 38th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on August 14, 2014, in Mexico City.

This document is a list of participants for the 38th Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held on August 14, 2014, in Mexico City, Mexico.

The document is a participant list for the 22nd Conference of the Parties, held in Mexico City on August 13 and 14, 2014. It details the names, affiliations, and contact information of representatives from various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Uruguay, and the USA, as well as observers from organizations such as UNESCO, CEPAL, and the IAI Directorate.

The report details the transition of the IAI to a tripartite structure. The Executive Directorate of Integrated Operations and Finance is operational in Montevideo, Uruguay, following a host country agreement that entered into force on December 13, 2013. The Science-Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has renovated office space at the Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation, though staffing for the Director and assistants has faced delays. The Science Development Directorate in São José dos Campos, Brazil, remains under negotiation as the IAI seeks to ensure the host country agreement refers to the IAI as a whole rather than just the specific directorate to avoid operational difficulties.

The IAI Executive Committee has established an ad hoc committee to draft terms of reference for a new Advisory Committee on Science-Policy Liaison, aimed at integrating global change science into decision-making. The EC is also exploring strategies to increase member country involvement and funding, including reviewing the IAI Strategic Plan. Additionally, the IAI participated in the ENSOCIO-LA consortium to foster EU-Latin American cooperation on climate change and resource efficiency, and co-organized a World Climate Research Program (WCRP) conference in Montevideo to define a regional research agenda for climate services.

The Implementation Committee reports on the transition to a tripartite structure for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The Integrated Operations and Finance Directorate in Montevideo, Uruguay, is largely operational following the ratification of its host country agreement on December 13, 2013. The Science-Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires, Argentina, has renovated office space, though staffing for the Director and Assistant Director positions has been delayed by administrative and diploma legalization issues. The establishment of the Science Development Directorate in São José dos Campos, Brazil, remains pending due to ongoing negotiations over the host country agreement, specifically regarding whether the agreement should cover the IAI as a whole or only the specific directorate.