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Friends of the Earth International has issued a statement regarding the disappearance of Miguel Ángel Pabón Pabón, a leader of the social movement for the defense of the Sogamoso River in Colombia, who was last seen on October 31, 2012. Pabón Pabón is recognized for his work defending fisherfolk and peasant communities against the social and environmental impacts of hydro-electrical projects, specifically those involving the company ISAGEN. The document highlights a pattern of violence in the region, noting that the Observatorio de Paz Integral reported 11 disappearances in 2012, with six individuals subsequently found dead. The organization calls upon Colombian authorities, including the Magdalena Medio Police and the National Attorney General, to ensure Pabón Pabón's safe return.

The Agriculture, Vulnerability and Adaptation (AVA) project in Colombia's Upper Cauca River Basin is developing a comprehensive vulnerability assessment model to help the agricultural sector adapt to climate change. Moving beyond traditional biophysical models, the AVA approach integrates four dimensions: biophysical, political-institutional, economic-productive, and sociocultural. This interdisciplinary and participatory method involves stakeholders—including farmers, researchers, and government authorities—to identify key indicators and collect data, ensuring the results are relevant to local needs and less sensitive to the uncertainties of climate modeling. The project aims to create a universally accessible tool for adaptation planning that can be scaled to regional or national levels.

The paper examines 38 PES schemes in Latin America, finding that most are local initiatives driven by NGOs and focused on improving extractive water supply through forest conservation. It highlights a significant disconnect between payment levels and market-based data, noting that payments are typically decided top-down and based on inputs (actions) rather than verified ecosystem outputs.

The report examines the critical intersection of transport and environment in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), highlighting severe road safety risks, rising urban air and noise pollution, and increasing traffic congestion. It argues that current transport systems are often inequitable, neglecting vulnerable groups like pedestrians and the rural poor. The document advocates for a paradigm shift toward sustainable mobility using the 'Avoid-Shift-Improve' strategy, emphasizing the need for integrated land-use planning, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and the protection of non-motorized transport to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve public health.

The report concludes that there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the use of biochar as a reliable climate change mitigation tool. A review of 329 references found that only 15 field studies measured biochar decomposition, and of those, only six provided data to estimate stability. These six studies showed wildly varying results, with mean residence times (MRT) ranging from 8.3 years to over 3,000 years. The authors argue that the science is too immature to justify public investment in biochar for carbon sequestration, as the influence of biochar on the whole system carbon balance remains poorly quantified.

The 2050 Criteria identifies primary environmental and social risks for ten major commodity sectors—including aquaculture, beef, cotton, dairy, palm oil, soy, sugar, timber, wild-caught seafood, and bioenergy—and establishes Key Performance Criteria (KPC) to help banks and investors identify responsible practices. The document argues that the global economy is consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished, creating systemic risks for the financial sector. It promotes the use of credible third-party certifications, such as the RSPO for palm oil and FSC for forestry, as proxies for business performance and risk management. The report also highlights investment opportunities in sustainable technologies, such as methane capture systems in palm oil and dairy sectors, and the rehabilitation of degraded lands to meet growing global demand without further deforestation.

Friends of the Earth Latin America and the Caribbean reports a pattern of human rights violations against Colombian activists and academics, specifically citing the arrest of Felix Manuel Banguero, a criminal investigation into Professor Miller Dussan regarding the Quimbo hydroelectric project, and raids on the home of Hildebrando Vélez Galeano. The document argues that government protection programs are ineffective and calls for the Colombian government to ensure fundamental rights to life, association, and expression.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) managed the review and selection of CRN3 proposals from June 2011 to June 2012. Out of 88 pre-proposals, 26 full proposals were reviewed, and 8 were selected for funding. These 8 projects involve 117 investigators from 75 institutions across 16 countries. The SAC emphasized the need for multi-country teams, capacity building, and the integration of human dimensions and social sciences into climate research.

This document is a list of participants for the 34th Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, which took place on June 29, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia, USA.

The document is a participant list for the IAI 20th Conference of the Parties and associated Science-Policy Dialogue held on June 27-29, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. It lists representatives from various governments, academic institutions, and international organizations.

The IAI Executive Council met on June 26, 2012, to address operational budgets, scientific research grants, and governance restructuring. Key outcomes include the recommendation of a tripartite headquarters model distributed across Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, and the approval of eight research projects under the third round of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN3) program. The Council also reviewed financial reports for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, noting a total of US$1.3 million in pending member contributions.

The IAI Executive Council is managing the transition to a tripartite hosting arrangement for its Directorate, involving Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. While a distributed structure has been proposed—with the Directorate in Montevideo, science development in São José dos Campos, and science-policy liaison in Buenos Aires—the parties have not yet reached a consensus on the detailed integrated proposal. Additionally, the report notes the resignation of EC Chair Dr. Paul Filmer and the appointment of Dr. Carlos Ereño as acting chair.

The document details the efforts of the IAI Executive Council and an ad hoc commission to organize the hosting of the IAI Executive Directorate. Following interest from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, a tripartite proposal was developed to distribute functions across these three countries. However, the report notes that consensus was not reached among the parties, resulting in two different options to be resolved by the Conference of the Parties (CoP-20).

The report details the financial status of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. While 99.5% of approved contributions for the year were received by April 30, 2012, the institute faces significant arrears totaling US$1.3 million, with Mexico and Venezuela cited as major debtors. Operational expenses through February 2012 were 11% below budget, though salary costs exceeded projections by 6.4%. Cash reserves cover 3.8 months of operations, increasing to 9.2 months if US committed funds are included. Administratively, the report notes instability regarding the contracting of four staff members via INPE.

The document analyzes the International Bar Association's Model Mining Development Agreement (MMDA 1.0), providing a template and narrative to ensure mining contracts promote sustainable development, transparency, and equitable resource distribution. It details key contractual areas including land tenure, royalties, taxation, and community obligations, while emphasizing the use of international standards like the IFC Performance Standards and EITI. Additionally, the report investigates the existence of similar model agreements for the oil and gas sector, concluding that no internationally accepted model currently exists despite the availability of various national form contracts.

The document describes the New Ventures project, which provides mentorship and investment access to SMEs in six emerging markets to promote environmental sustainability. It highlights Ouro Verde, a Brazilian company producing sustainable Brazil nut products, which has created 47 jobs and supports the sustainable management of 1.3 million hectares of rainforest. Overall, New Ventures has facilitated over $225 million in investment for 346 enterprises, resulting in a 2010 CO2 reduction of 135,021 tons and the sustainable management or conservation of 1,490,448 hectares of land.

The IAI Core Budget request for fiscal year 2012-2013 is US$1,312,578, a slight decrease from the previous year. The budget supports the Directorate's operations, including the management of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) and Small Grants Programs, and accounts for the relocation of the Directorate from Brazil to Uruguay in January 2013. Salaries and benefits constitute 72% of the core budget. The document also outlines member country contributions, with the United States providing the largest share at US$762,000.

The document analyzes the results of the COP17 Durban Platform, highlighting the role of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries in bridging gaps between developed and developing nations. It argues that LAC countries should leverage their 'creative diversity' and track record of voluntary emission reductions to lead a high-ambition coalition with Africa and Asia. Key recommendations include strengthening a political narrative that decouples development from emissions growth, improving communication of domestic low-carbon successes, and scaling up adaptation and resilience planning to protect vulnerable infrastructure and food security.

Friends of the Earth International denounces the violent eviction of fishing families on the Magdalena River by Colombian police, which resulted in three injuries, including a youth who lost an eye. The organization highlights the negative impact of the El Quimbo Hydroelectric Project on local livelihoods and supports the legal efforts of Asoquimbo and Censat Agua Viva to stop the project due to environmental license irregularities. It calls on the Colombian government to follow World Commission on Dams recommendations and grant a Public Environmental Hearing.

Friends of the Earth International denounces the violent removal of fishermen and farmers from a sit-in at the El Quimbo hydroelectric dam site on the Magdalena river in Colombia. The organization highlights the project's negative impact on traditional livelihoods and the Colombian government's failure to grant a Public Environmental Audience or address irregularities in the project's environmental license.