Search Climate Insights Directory

This document is a budget request from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the 2008/2009 fiscal year, including preliminary projections for 2009-2011. It details the funding required for the IAI Directorate's operations, scientific programs, capacity building, and administrative costs, while outlining the expected contributions from member countries.

The minutes of the Fifteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held June 19-20, 2008, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, detail the institute's operational progress, financial status, and strategic planning. The meeting focused on the science-policy dialogue, the development of a new strategic plan, and the approval of the FY 2008-2009 core budget and country contributions.

The document contains the minutes of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-XV) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 19-20, 2008. The meeting focused on national reports from member countries, the approval of the 2008-2009 annual program and operating budget, the development of a new strategic plan, and the election of members for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Executive Committee (CE).

This report, commissioned by the European Parliament, evaluates sustainability criteria for the proposed EU Directive on renewable energy, specifically focusing on liquid biofuels. It analyzes the potential for biofuel production globally and within Europe, the impacts of land-use change on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the feasibility of using degraded lands for energy crops. The document provides technical critiques of GHG accounting methodologies and suggests harmonizing EU standards with international frameworks like the IPCC and UNFCCC to ensure environmental integrity and global equity.

This quarterly financial report for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), dated May 31, 2008, details the institute's operational budget, program expenditures, and administrative status. It highlights a heavy reliance on four major contributors, the implementation of the Collaborative Research Network II (CRN-II), and challenges regarding the Host Country Agreement with Brazil.

The report details the findings and discussions of the Administration and Finance Committee (FAC) meeting held from May 5 to 7, 2008, in Toronto, Canada. The committee reviewed the proposed 2008/09 core budget, discussed the need to update the Host Country Agreement with Brazil to address tax exemptions and office space, and addressed operational issues including a cash theft and subcontracting challenges with INPE.

The research paper examines the IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) trilateral coalition, highlighting its shift from purely political goals, such as UN Security Council reform, toward pragmatic economic and social cooperation. While the coalition seeks to enhance south-south trade and technology exchange, the author notes that these countries remain heavily dependent on northern markets and investment.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes the evolving relationship between China and Africa. It argues that African nations must shift from an ideological 'liberation paradigm' to a pragmatic 'economic paradigm' to avoid Chinese dominance and ensure mutual benefit. The author suggests that Africa should leverage China's need for energy resources to secure technology transfer, local development projects, and fairer trade terms, while utilizing the China-Africa Co-operation Forum to coordinate a continent-wide strategy.

This research paper argues that high taxes and tariffs imposed by governments in poor countries, particularly in Africa, create significant financial barriers to accessing life-saving medicines and medical supplies, undermining international aid and drug price reductions.

This research paper argues that African countries, particularly within the SADC region, should adopt biotechnology and genetic modification to combat food insecurity and climate-change-induced droughts. The author contends that current regulatory stances in Africa are overly influenced by external pressures from the European Union and the Cartagena Protocol, leading to 'regulatory overkill' that may conflict with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and hinder the timely delivery of food relief.

Friends of the Earth International issued a statement rejecting the Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS), arguing that its certification process provides a "façade of sustainability" for agribusinesses and energy companies while failing to address the systemic social and environmental damage caused by industrial-scale soy monocultures.

The International Federation of Friends of the Earth rejects the Round Table on Responsible Soy (RTRS), arguing that its certification process provides a 'greenwash' for multinational corporations and agribusinesses while ignoring the systemic social and environmental damage caused by industrial soy monocultures.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides an interpretive analysis of three major international scientific assessments—the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, the IAASTD, and GEO-4—to determine their implications for the policy goals of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The analysis focuses on 11 key themes, including climate change, biotechnology, and energy production, evaluating how these global trends affect Canada's agricultural competitiveness, social priorities, and risk management.

This fact sheet by Friends of the Earth International argues that genetically modified (GM) crops have not contributed to reducing hunger or poverty and are unsuitable for small-scale farmers due to high seed costs and patent restrictions. The document asserts that GM crops do not increase yields, often increase pesticide use, and primarily benefit large-scale industrial farmers in a few countries through 'convenience' rather than productivity.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International evaluates the global impact of genetically modified (GM) crops as of 2007, arguing that they provide no significant environmental, social, or economic benefits. The document specifically highlights how herbicide-resistant crops have led to an increase in pesticide use and the emergence of resistant weeds, while failing to improve food security or crop yields.

This executive summary by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues that genetically modified (GM) crops provide no ecological, social, or economic benefits. The document focuses on the increased use of pesticides associated with herbicide-tolerant (HT) varieties, the lack of impact on global hunger and poverty, and the stagnation or decline of crop yields compared to conventional farming.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) provided a quarterly status report as of May 31, 2008, detailing its core and program budgets, member country contributions, and the progress of research networks and training institutes. The report highlights a reliance on four major contributors, the implementation of the Collaborative Research Network II (CRN-II), and new funding from the MacArthur Foundation and IDRC.

This 2008 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) for the SEED Initiative examines the challenges and processes of scaling up and replicating social and environmental enterprises. It contrasts the 'large scale' ambitions of international development donors with the modest, viability-focused growth goals of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMMEs), suggesting that recognition and reward programs should provide more tailored, long-term support and help create enabling environments rather than expecting entrepreneurs to drive systemic societal transformation alone.

This document is a request for urgent precautionary measures submitted to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) by the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) and other organizations. It seeks the immediate suspension of hydrocarbon exploration activities in the traditional territories of the isolated Cacataibo indigenous people in Peru, arguing that seismic exploration poses an imminent threat of forced contact, disease, and death.

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.