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The IAI's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is seeking nominations for two vacancies arising from the expiration of mandates for Anahí Urquiza and Omar R. López in June 2024. The committee specifically seeks experts in Terrestrial Ecosystems (Natural Sciences) and Economics or Development Studies (Social Sciences), with a particular goal of increasing representation from Central America and the Caribbean. Nominations, including a CV, must be submitted by April 19, 2024, for election during the Conference of the Parties on May 22-23, 2024.

The report outlines a framework for improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in Guatemala, emphasizing the connection between these services and integrated watershed management. It aims to align Guatemala's public policy on drinking water and sanitation with the K’atun 2032 National Development Plan, specifically under the 'Natural resources today and for the future' axis. The document analyzes current policy challenges, identifies areas where Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) tools can be applied based on consultations with health and environment officials, and provides recommendations for strategic partnerships and capacity building to enhance climate resilience and public health.

The brief presents evidence from the Gender Equality in a Low Carbon World (GLOW) programme, demonstrating that integrating gender-responsive policies and women's empowerment into business models enhances the productivity and viability of climate-smart SMEs. It highlights specific successes in aquaculture, hydroponics, and solar irrigation across Africa and Latin America, while urging impact investors and public financiers to adopt gender-lens investment strategies to unlock untapped markets and improve social equity.

The document outlines how gender-responsive approaches—identifying barriers for women and promoting their leadership—enhance the efficiency of climate-smart technologies in agriculture and aquaculture. Drawing on the GLOW programme (2021–2024), it provides evidence from Africa and Central America showing that empowering women leads to higher yields, better market access, and increased attractiveness for impact investors.

The IAI Strategic Plan 2024–2030 focuses on three strategic themes: meeting the needs of Parties to address global environmental change, developing science for the sustainability of the Americas, and ensuring the sustainability of the IAI. These themes are implemented through 10 strategic goals, including the promotion of transdisciplinary research on biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and water-food-energy nexuses, as well as strengthening science-policy interfaces and regional funding networks.

The report emphasizes the critical role of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal protection. It argues that these 'blue carbon' ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and calls for a comprehensive framework involving scientific diplomacy, transboundary cooperation, and community engagement. The document provides specific policy recommendations across four dimensions: ecology, ecosystem services, spatial governance, and community action, while highlighting the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica as case studies for sustainable management.

This white paper argues for the critical importance of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection. It identifies threats such as climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management. The report emphasizes the role of 'blue carbon' in climate mitigation and advocates for science diplomacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. It provides specific case studies from the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica to illustrate successful management and the need for continued restoration.

The document argues that estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America are critical for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection, but face threats from climate change, pollution, and urbanization. It proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management, emphasizing the need for scientific diplomacy, inclusive governance, and community participation. The report highlights the role of 'blue carbon' in national climate strategies and provides case studies from the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica and the Coiba Archipelago in Panama to illustrate successful sustainable management and the potential for pristine sites to serve as regional health benchmarks.

The NAP Global Network's 2023 report details its efforts to accelerate climate adaptation in developing countries through technical support, peer learning, and knowledge generation. Key achievements include supporting 41 countries with technical assistance, facilitating regional peer learning cohorts in Central America and West Africa, and advancing gender-responsive and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) frameworks. The Network is currently tracking progress toward its 2025 strategic targets, with significant success in expanding its Country Support Hub and In-Country NAP Support Programs.

CIEL condemns the use of force against peaceful protesters in Panama who are opposing metallic mining and a copper mine concession. The organization calls for the protection of human rights and the full implementation of the Escazú Agreement's guarantees for environmental information, participation, and justice. Additionally, CIEL recommends postponing public forums for the Fourth Electric Transmission Line project due to ongoing public disorder.

Analysis using the Climate Shift Index (CSI) shows that human-caused climate change significantly increased the likelihood of record-shattering heat during the June-August 2023 period. Approximately 48% of the global population experienced at least 30 days where heat was made at least three times more likely by climate change (CSI level 3 or higher). The report highlights a stark inequity in exposure, noting that countries with the lowest historical emissions experienced three to four times more days of very strong climate fingerprints than G20 countries.

A briefing from the IAI Directorate regarding discussions with Panama to establish a regional office to increase the institute's visibility and promote accession in Central America and the Caribbean.

The IAI Executive Directorate is engaging in informal conversations with Panama's National Secretariat for Science, Technology and Innovation (SENACYT) to establish a regional office. This initiative aims to increase the visibility of scientific projects and capacity-building activities, while encouraging non-member states in Central America and the Caribbean to join the IAI.

The document translates complex IPCC findings into accessible language, emphasizing the urgent need for zero new fossil fuel development, the necessity of carbon dioxide removal to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, and the critical requirement for increased climate finance for developing countries.

Costa Rica is implementing a decentralized approach to climate adaptation through 'Project – Plan A: Climate-Resilient Territories', which empowers local municipalities to develop their own climate actions based on territorial analysis and inclusive governance.

Costa Rica is implementing a strategy of local-scale climate adaptation, exemplified by the "Proyecto Plan A: Territorios resilientes ante el cambio climático," which empowers local governments to develop their own adaptation actions. Approximately 25% of the country's cantons, covering 46% of the territory, have generated specific climate adaptation actions by analyzing local threats and integrating climate variables into territorial planning. The approach emphasizes the inclusion of historically excluded groups, such as indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, women, and youth, in the governance and implementation of these measures.

The report outlines the legal framework and procedural steps taken to recruit a new Executive Director for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), including the formation of a selection committee and the receipt of applications from North, Central, and South America.

The report outlines the legal framework and procedural steps taken to recruit a new Executive Director for the IAI, noting the composition of the Selection Committee and the regional origin of applicants.

The report outlines a phased roadmap for the Green Power Corridor (GPC) in North-East Asia, aiming to integrate the power grids of China, Japan, Mongolia, the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and the Russian Federation. Using a cost-optimization model, the study demonstrates that enhanced connectivity reduces system costs, accelerates the adoption of low-cost renewables, and supports national net-zero targets. The proposed roadmap is divided into three phases: laying the groundwork (2023-2030), implementation (2030-2040), and organic development (2040 onward), focusing on six building blocks: political accord, institutional framework, infrastructure backbone, financial arrangements, regulatory framework, and social acceptance.

This briefing outlines the progress of the Regional Assessment conducted by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The assessment aims to identify knowledge gaps and uncertainties in decisions impacted by global environmental change (GEC) to better target science and capacity-building efforts for Member Countries.