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The document examines the multifaceted impacts of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on vulnerable populations, ecosystem degradation, and the necessity of a transdisciplinary approach to science. Key findings highlight the disproportionate burden on rural women, the role of ocean warming in destroying artisanal fisheries, the link between habitat loss and emerging zoonotic diseases, and the increasing frequency of climate-driven migration. It specifically analyzes the 'vicious cycle' of fires in the Amazon and the challenges of water governance in the Paraná Basin. The report argues that traditional top-down scientific models often exclude the voices of those most affected, proposing a 'co-production' of knowledge between scientists and local communities to create more effective and just adaptation strategies.

The document lists the current members of the SAC and SPAC and details the criteria and expertise required for new SAC appointments. It also summarizes the committees' contributions during an intercessional period, including strategic guidance, policy revisions, and the establishment of specialized subcommittees.

The 'Satellite Data to Monitor Regional Environmental Change' course is a 20-hour self-paced online program for Latin American researchers. It focuses on using Google Earth Engine to analyze multi-decadal satellite records, with specific applications in tropical forest health, deforestation, forest fire monitoring, and climate projection. The curriculum is divided into five modules covering image processing, time series analysis, vector data calculations, land cover change, and the creation of public-facing interactive applications.

The document is a list of recommended readings for regional climate change responses related to health in Latin America, featuring reports from the Lancet Countdown, COP26, and specific regional plans for the Andean and Caribbean areas.

The author proposes that China can transition from purely economic expansion to supporting climate action in Latin America by implementing a Joint Credit Mechanism for renewables, engaging in debt-for-climate swaps (specifically with Ecuador), and negotiating free trade agreements that prioritize environmental goods and services.

The IISD Mining and Sustainable Development Initiative works to ensure mining contributes to economic and social development without compromising the environment. It employs a shared-value approach to maximize intergenerational benefits and ecological restoration. The initiative provides legal advice, economic analysis, and capacity building for governments and companies, with specific recent work in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and Canada regarding contract negotiations, policy frameworks, and climate risk management.

The report argues that globalization and environmental degradation are deeply intertwined, creating new security threats and economic risks. It posits that the future of the global environment will be defined by consumption patterns and the ability of emerging economies, particularly China and India, to adopt sustainable development paths. The authors call for a fundamental reform of global governance to move beyond state-centric models and integrate trade and environmental policies under the shared goal of sustainable development.

Envisioning Resilience is a creative initiative developed by the NAP Global Network, Lensational, and GirlsCARE to increase the inclusion of underrepresented women in climate adaptation decision-making. The approach uses a four-step process: training in photography and storytelling, the development of individual and collective visual stories, a policy dialogue between trainees and government decision-makers to establish shared adaptation priorities, and an income-generation mechanism through the sale of photographs.

The document presents a classification of financial instruments for climate adaptation, categorised by their maturity level (mature, emerging, or pilot) and their applicability to specific sectors and regions. It identifies three main categories of instruments: debt instruments, results-based financing instruments, and financial risk management instruments.

This research paper by Jodie Keane explores the nature of intra-Commonwealth value chains using a mixed-methods approach. It analyzes trade intensity, shifts in intermediate goods sourcing, and firm-level data to determine how Commonwealth members integrate into regional versus global value chains (GVCs). The findings suggest a prevalence of additive value chains and a specific tendency for Small Island Developing States to export within the Commonwealth.

The Barbados Energy Transition and Investment Plan (ETIP) identifies a net-zero emissions (NZE) target by 2035 as the most feasible pathway for the nation. Achieving this goal requires a total capital investment of BBD 19 billion by 2040, with the transport sector accounting for approximately BBD 17.3 billion of this total. The transition is expected to be driven by the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), onshore wind, solar PV, and blue hydrogen, while utilizing bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in the industry sector to offset residual emissions. The plan projects that NZE 2035 will result in fuel cost savings of BBD 15.6 billion and create approximately 1,500 new jobs above business-as-usual levels by 2035. Key policy recommendations include implementing mandatory building energy codes, establishing a national electric mobility roadmap, and developing a governance structure featuring an Energy Transition Office to coordinate cross-ministerial implementation.

The document outlines a strategic framework for Caribbean nations to 'recover better' from the COVID-19 pandemic by investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency. It highlights the economic benefits, such as GDP growth and job creation, and identifies eight key enablers—including the removal of fossil fuel subsidies and the adoption of cost-reflective tariffs—necessary to transition from centralized, fossil-fuel-dependent power systems to resilient, decentralized green energy infrastructures.

The document identifies six primary threats to the ocean: acidification, warming, hypoxia, sea level rise, pollution, and overuse of resources. It argues that these stressors often act synergistically, increasing the risk of catastrophic tipping points. The authors propose a shift from traditional cost-benefit analysis to an insurance-based risk model to better account for high-impact, low-probability events. Economically, the text estimates that the cost of damage under a high-emission scenario could reach USD 1,980 billion by 2100, suggesting that rapid carbon abatement could save over a trillion dollars per year by the end of the century. The Pacific Ocean is presented as a critical case study for coordinated regional action.

The analysis estimates that by 2100, the cost of ocean damage under a high-emissions scenario (RCP6) would reach US$ 1,980 billion, compared to US$ 612.2 billion under a low-emissions scenario (RCP2.6). The avoidable damage—the difference between these two pathways—is estimated at US$ 1,367.4 billion per year by 2100, representing 0.25 percent of global GDP. The study focuses on five priceable categories: fisheries, sea-level rise, storms, tourism, and the ocean carbon sink, while explicitly excluding 'priceless' values such as biodiversity. It notes that the poorest countries, including those in Africa, East Asia, the Caribbean, and Pacific island nations, are most vulnerable to these impacts.

The report tracks the status of 2,900 commitments from the Our Ocean Conference, noting that as of May 2026, 41% are complete and 41% are in progress. While $26.5 billion has been delivered through completed commitments, the paper argues that implementation urgency must increase to meet 2030 global ocean conservation goals, specifically highlighting the need to address gaps in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

The study estimates the economic value of three specific services provided by Belize's coastal ecosystems, finding that tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection contribute significantly to the national economy, though these resources face threats from development, overfishing, and climate change.

The document outlines a three-phase framework (scoping, analysis, and outreach) for valuing coastal ecosystems in the Caribbean to ensure such studies translate into real-world policy influence. It identifies key enabling conditions for success, such as clear policy questions and strong stakeholder engagement, and addresses gaps in existing valuation tools by providing specific reporting guidelines and best-practice examples for the region.

The paper examines 21 examples of locally led adaptation (LLA) across Africa, Asia-Pacific, and the Caribbean and Latin America to provide strategies for financing and implementing resilience efforts. It argues that LLA redresses power imbalances by prioritizing the agency of local organizations and Indigenous peoples, who are often best positioned to identify adaptation solutions. The document recommends that funders and governments increase the volume and flexibility of climate finance, integrate social equity into standard processes, and shift governance to center local priorities.

The paper argues that local governments are underutilized actors in locally led adaptation (LLA) and demonstrates how the Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) supports them through performance-based grants and capacity building. Using case studies from Niger, Lesotho, and Cambodia, the text shows that while local governments can effectively bridge the gap between national policy and community action, they may also reflect exclusionary power dynamics that require broader engagement with non-state actors to ensure inclusivity.

The report 'Reefs at Risk' assesses the global status of coral reefs, finding that 58% are potentially threatened by human activities. It identifies overexploitation and coastal development as the primary drivers of risk, with Southeast Asia being the most threatened region. The study utilizes a map-based indicator to flag high-risk areas, particularly biodiversity hot spots, and evaluates the current state of marine protected areas (MPAs).