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The sustainable debt market in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reached a cumulative total of USD 154.1 billion by the end of 2022. While the region represents only 4% of global sustainable debt, these instruments account for approximately 21% of the region's total debt volume from 2019 to 2022. The market is led by Chile, Mexico, and Brazil, with a strong presence of sovereign issuers and development banks. Key trends include the rise of sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), the emergence of 'blue bonds' for ocean conservation, and the development of national taxonomies in Colombia and Mexico to standardize sustainable investments.

The VSS+ debt market in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) reached a cumulative total of $154.1 billion by the end of 2022. While the market experienced a volume contraction in 2022 due to global inflation and rising interest rates, it represents approximately 21% of the region's total debt volume from 2019 to 2022. Sustainable bonds are the largest segment (35%), followed by green (28%), social (19%), and sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs) (17%). Chile, Mexico, and Brazil are the primary markets, with Chile being the only country to have issued sovereign bonds across four of the five thematic labels. The report highlights the emergence of 'blue bonds' and nature-debt swaps in the Caribbean and Ecuador, and emphasizes the need for standardized taxonomies and improved reporting transparency to attract further international capital.

The report outlines the development of certification criteria for hydrogen assets, focusing on carbon intensity benchmarks, life-cycle assessment methodologies, and climate resilience requirements to align investments with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal.

The LAC GSS+ bond market reached a cumulative total of USD154.1bn by the end of 2022. While 2022 saw a contraction in volumes, the market remains significant, accounting for an average of 21% of the region's debt. Sustainability bonds are the largest segment (35%), followed by green (28%), social (19%), and sustainability-linked bonds (17%). Chile, Mexico, and Brazil are the primary market drivers, with Chile leading in total volume at USD43.2bn. The report highlights the emergence of sovereign sustainability-linked bonds (SLBs), the potential of the blue economy, and the critical need for adaptation and resilience (A&R) financing. Key barriers include reporting inconsistencies and limited local capital market liquidity. The document recommends the adoption of national taxonomies, enhanced disclosure through platforms like the IDB's Green Bond Transparency Platform, and the use of innovative instruments to mobilize capital for the energy transition.

A coalition of Global South organizations argues that the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) lacks sufficient due diligence and safeguards to protect the rights of people and environments in resource-rich countries. They demand a human-rights-based approach to decarbonization, including mandatory due diligence, the requirement of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for Indigenous Peoples, and a shift from treating these countries as mere raw material suppliers to establishing equitable partnerships that include technology transfer and value addition.

The 31st meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP-31), held in Panama City in June 2023, resulted in the adoption of 23 decisions. Key outcomes include the creation of the IAI Science Diplomacy Center, the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Advisory Committee, and the mandate to develop research programs on the nexus of climate, environment, and health, as well as oceans and coastal systems. The meeting also addressed financial sustainability, noting that voluntary contributions have not increased in over 30 years, and approved the core budget for FY 2023-2024.

The 55th meeting of the IAI Executive Council focused on financial sustainability, leadership transitions, and regional climate initiatives. The Council recommended that the Conference of the Parties (CoP) approve the FY 2023-2024 Core Budget and establish a working group to increase voluntary contributions and diversify funding sources, noting that the core budget has not increased since 1992. The meeting also introduced Dr. Anna Stewart-Ibarra as the new Executive Director and Dr. Edwin Castellanos as the incoming Science Director. Additionally, the Council discussed a Regional Assessment of global change policy priorities and an initiative to enhance national climate assessment capacities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The report examines the current state of mining taxation and proposes ten innovative policy ideas to increase government revenue. It highlights the shift toward critical minerals for the energy transition and the risks posed by automation and profit shifting. The proposed ideas include minimum profit sharing, production sharing contracts, state equity, state-owned enterprises, variable royalties, the 'Sixth Method' for transfer pricing, carbon pricing, development taxes for communities, competitive bidding for licenses, and remote monitoring for quarries. It also provides a framework for evaluating these reforms and discusses the legal challenges associated with fiscal stabilization clauses and international investment treaties.

The document argues that traditional mining tax regimes (corporate income tax and royalties) are often insufficient or vulnerable to profit shifting. It proposes ten alternatives, including variable royalties, production sharing contracts, and state equity participation, while addressing the impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the need for better production monitoring through remote sensing technology.

The guide examines the current state of mining taxation, highlighting challenges such as base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS), and proposes ten innovative policy ideas to improve revenue mobilization. These include minimum profit shares, production sharing contracts, variable royalties, and the 'Sixth Method' for transfer pricing. It also addresses the impact of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and suggests the implementation of domestic carbon pricing and remote monitoring technologies for industrial minerals. The document emphasizes the need for transparent governance, professional board management for state-owned enterprises, and a balanced approach to fiscal stability clauses to ensure sustainable development.

This document is a list of participants for the 31st Meeting of the Executive Council to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held on June 21, 2023, in Panama City and via videoconference.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has received nominations for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and Science Policy Committee (SPAC). For the SAC, nominations were received from Argentina (Pedro Laterra) and Chile (Laura Ramajo), while no nominations were received from IAI Associates. For the SPAC, nominations were received from Ecuador (Inty Arcos), Colombia (Gilma Mantilla), and Brazil (Carlos Joly). Because the number of nominees equals the number of vacancies, parties may accept all qualified candidates. Additionally, an ad-hoc committee will be established on 21 June 2023 during CoP-31 to evaluate candidates and recommend which SAC candidate should fill the alternate member vacancy.

The Regional Workshop on Climate, Environment, and Health, held in March 2023 in San Martín de los Andes, Argentina, focused on strengthening public institutional capacity to address environmental determinants of health (EDHs) in the Americas. The event convened nearly 100 experts from 20 countries to promote transdisciplinary and intersectoral collaboration. Key outcomes included the development of 13 seed grant proposals addressing issues such as dengue, heatwaves, and zoonoses, and the announcement of the Belmont Forum Collaborative Research Action (CRA2) funding call. The workshop also highlighted local climate and health initiatives in Neuquén Province, including GHG inventory efforts in San Martín de los Andes and vector-borne disease control in Neuquén Capital.

Methane mitigation is severely underfunded, with current annual spending at only 10% of the $119 billion required to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. The report identifies structural barriers, including a lack of donor prioritization, absence of dedicated funding windows, and a shortage of bankable project pipelines in developing countries. It recommends that development finance institutions designate methane 'champions', that donor governments increase funding for project preparation, and that developing nations create enabling policy environments to attract private investment.

The document analyzes the lithium supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, highlighting a distributive injustice where the 'Lithium Triangle' (Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile) suffers environmental degradation and water scarcity while North America gains from reduced urban pollution. It argues that science diplomacy—integrating scientific evidence into transnational policy—can establish sustainability thresholds and geochemical tracing methods to ensure responsible sourcing. The authors recommend using sustainability science to define mining standards and employing lithium isotope analysis to verify the origin of materials, drawing parallels from successful agricultural supply chain policies.

The document asserts that the world is in the midst of a 'renewable revolution' characterized by exponential cost declines and adoption rates for solar, wind, batteries, and electric vehicles. It identifies China as the current leader of this transition, which is sparking a global race to the top. The report claims that global fossil fuel demand peaked in 2019 and will enter terminal decline after 2025. By 2030, the authors predict that renewables will dominate sector sales and be significantly cheaper than fossil fuel alternatives, creating a 'renewable supercycle' for investors and a necessity for petrostates to reform. The report also highlights the potential for the Global South to leapfrog old technologies and the ability of renewables to drastically reduce air pollution deaths and environmental pressure compared to fossil fuels.

This document, prepared by the IAI Directorate, presents preliminary findings from a Regional Assessment of IAI Parties' priorities regarding global change policy. The assessment utilized surveys, listening sessions, and the analysis of 86 policy documents to map the domestic and international global change policy landscape, identifying current and emerging priorities as well as barriers to integrating scientific information into decision-making.

The report details a regional assessment conducted by the IAI to map national and international global change policies and decision-making landscapes. Using surveys, listening sessions, and policy document analysis, the assessment identifies 'Climate Action' as the top current policy priority for member parties, followed by 'Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services'. It also highlights emerging priorities related to social consequences, such as human health and poverty, and identifies intersectoral collaboration gaps as a primary barrier to integrating scientific information into policy decisions.

The IAI Directorate reported progress in integrating gender and equity into scientific projects, enhancing the science-policy interface through the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) and STeP fellowships, and implementing regional climate and health initiatives. Key achievements include the launch of a climate and health responder course for Latin America, the publication of a compendium on climate impacts in the LAC region, and the development of a drought information system for Southern South America. The Directorate also expanded its collaborative research actions with the Belmont Forum and established partnerships with organizations like the WMO and PAHO to improve climate risk assessments and early warning systems.

The IAI Executive Direction reports progress across science, capacity building, and strategic implementation between 2022 and 2023. Key achievements include the establishment of a Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) committee, the launch of the Science Diplomacy Center (SDC), and the expansion of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program to 64 fellows from 13 countries. The IAI also advanced regional initiatives on the climate-health nexus, drought information systems in South America, and collaborative research through the Belmont Forum. Strategic partnerships were strengthened with organizations such as the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to enhance climate risk assessment and science-policy interfaces in the Americas.