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The document highlights the need to align building regulations, energy efficiency, and health responses to mitigate urban heat risks in Chile, specifically in Quilpué. It identifies a correlation between high temperatures and increased hospital admissions, noting that energy poverty exacerbates climate vulnerability. The brief advocates for a transdisciplinary approach combining green infrastructure, rigorous thermal standards, and early warning systems to protect public health.

The IAI Directorate Report covers the period from July 2016 to May 2017, focusing on the implementation of transdisciplinary research and capacity building across the Americas. Key activities include the management of the Third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3), the development of Professional Development Seminars (PDS), and the establishment of a Science-Policy Liaison Directorate (SPLD) to bridge the gap between scientific findings and governmental decision-making. The report also highlights IAI's engagement with international conventions such as the UNFCCC and CBD, and the launch of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on climate change impacts in Latin America.

The IAI report covers its progress in transdisciplinary research, the implementation of the Third Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3) program, and the development of professional seminars to bridge the gap between science and policy in the Americas. Key achievements include the launch of a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on climate change impacts in Latin America and the establishment of a science-policy liaison office in Buenos Aires to systematize the impact of IAI research on regional governance.

A five-year interdisciplinary study on the Peru-Brazil Inter-Oceanic Highway found that while the road improved infrastructure and food access, it caused biodiversity loss and altered wild rodent populations. In the Madre de Dios region of Peru, researchers found high prevalence of Bartonella (78%) and Leptospira (24%) bacteria in sampled rodents, increasing the risk of lethal infectious diseases for local populations. The study highlights a critical gap in community awareness, as 90% of surveyed residents who saw rodents could not name the diseases they transmit. The report recommends integrated public health strategies and land-use policies that prioritize ecosystem health to mitigate the risks associated with deforestation and agricultural expansion.

The LUCIA project developed a computational Agent-Based Model (MBA) to simulate malaria transmission by accounting for the interactions between mosquitoes, parasites, and humans. Validated in regions of Brazil, Ecuador, and Peru, the model demonstrates that land-use changes—such as deforestation, mining, and agricultural expansion—combined with climate factors like river flooding, increase human vulnerability to malaria. Findings indicate that risk is higher for isolated homes on the outskirts of populations compared to central areas. The research suggests that managing larval breeding sites within 200 meters of populations can eliminate disease transmission, and notes that Ecuador has already modified its mining policies as a result.

The report addresses the disconnect between scientific research and policy implementation regarding biodiversity conservation in the Andean region. It argues that the primary obstacle is not a lack of data, but a failure in communication and the translation of complex science into actionable knowledge. The authors propose a six-stage knowledge management process to develop indicators that are technically valid yet simple and useful for both technical advisors and political decision-makers, supporting both proactive planning and reactive crisis management.

The report argues that climate change adaptation in the Tropical Andes requires a shift from fragmented, traditional science to a holistic, interdisciplinary approach that integrates natural and social sciences with traditional knowledge. It identifies key barriers, such as the disconnect between scientists and policymakers, fragmented information, and a lack of institutional support for interdisciplinary work. The document highlights national examples from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, emphasizing the need for government-led funding strategies that prioritize transdisciplinary research to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and human well-being.

The report examines the challenges of fragmented public policies in Latin America and proposes the Ecosystem Approach—a holistic strategy from the Convention on Biological Diversity—as a framework for integrating biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. It emphasizes the role of territorial planning (Ordenamiento Territorial) and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in building resilience, using the Integrated National Adaptation Project (INAP) in Colombia's Chingaza Massif as a practical example of bottom-up implementation.

The report argues that while biodiversity information exists across the Andean countries, it is often inaccessible or poorly standardized for policy use. It highlights the leadership of Colombia and Peru in implementing federated information systems and notes that a significant amount of regional biodiversity data is held in institutions outside the countries of origin. The author identifies critical gaps in functional and relational data—such as the impact of climate change on health and economy—and proposes a regional framework for metadata cataloging, data standardization, and the creation of strategic information products to support decision-making.

The IAI is implementing a policy to mainstream gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in research funding and working environments. Key activities include providing scholarships for early-career professionals from Latin America and the Caribbean, integrating EDI into science diplomacy training, and supporting projects like 'Women as Guardians of Biodiversity and Climate Resilience in Andean Peatlands'. The IAI's framework has also served as the basis for the Belmont Forum's own DEIA policy development.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Belmont Forum are coordinating the Collaborative Research Action (CRA) on Climate, Environment and Health (CEH). The first round of CEH funding, launched in 2019, provided over 12 million euros and in-kind contributions from 13 funding agencies across 10 countries to support 9 projects involving 69 researchers from 20 countries. A second round of funding (CEH2) is currently being developed through a scoping process involving virtual workshops in the Americas from July to September 2021 to identify science and funding priorities.

The document details the implementation of twelve CRN II projects focused on environmental change, biodiversity, and climate risks across the Americas. Key activities include the establishment of research sites in countries such as Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina, the development of geospatial databases for Caribbean coastal scenarios, and the analysis of tropical cyclones and paleotempestology. The IAI Directorate emphasizes interdisciplinary cooperation, such as linking biodiversity projects and integrating fishery information systems to improve policy relevance.

The IAI Directorate Report details the organization's efforts to bridge science and policy in the Americas, focusing on biodiversity, water security, and climate adaptation. It highlights the establishment of the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), the progress of the Third Collaborative Research Network (CRN3), and the results of a MacArthur Foundation project on Andean biodiversity hotspots. The report also outlines capacity-building seminars in Panama and Uruguay, and the IAI's engagement with global entities like Future Earth and IPBES.

The IAI Executive Directorate report for the period July 2014 to May 2015 details the institute's efforts to bridge the gap between global change science and policy in the Americas. Key activities include the 'Lima 2014 Declaration on Biodiversity and Climate Change', the establishment of the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), and the management of several cooperative research networks (CRN3 and SGP-CRA). The report highlights a significant trend toward interdisciplinarity in IAI-funded research, with social sciences integration rising from 33% in CRN1 to 87% in CRN3. Additionally, the report describes a MacArthur-funded project on climate vulnerability in the tropical Andes and various capacity-building seminars across Panama, Guatemala, and other member states.

The report details the Executive Council's actions regarding a declaration on climate adaptation for COP-20, the establishment and initial activities of the Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), and efforts to improve scientific connectivity and funding for global change research.

The IAI is implementing its tripartite governance structure, with an operational office in Montevideo supported by the Uruguayan government and a newly hired director for the Science-Policy liaison office in Buenos Aires. In Brazil, staff are finalizing the closure of banking and taxation links and working with the government to refine a Host Country Agreement for the Science Development Office.

The IAI Directorate Report (June 2015 - May 2016) outlines the institute's efforts to bridge the gap between global change science and policy in the Americas. Key activities include the implementation of the NSF-funded Training Institute Seed Grant Program, the development of Professional Development Seminars, and the creation of a Science Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires to quantify the impact of IAI research. The report highlights strategic collaborations with the UNFCCC, CBD, and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as a transition toward greater financial ownership by member countries through the Inter-american Forum of Funding Agencies. It also details specific regional projects, such as climate vulnerability assessments in the Tropical Andes and water management initiatives in Argentina and Colombia.

The IAI report outlines its efforts to bridge the gap between climate science and policy in the Americas through capacity-building programs, international networking, and strategic alliances with UN agencies and development banks. Key achievements include the implementation of seed grant programs, the development of climate vulnerability tools for the tropical Andes, and increased visibility through the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) campaign. The document also highlights a transition toward a more diversified funding model and the establishment of a Science-Policy Liaison office in Buenos Aires to quantify the impact of IAI research on national and regional policies.

The report details the progress of the IAI's tripartite governance, noting that offices in Montevideo and Buenos Aires are operational, while the host country agreement with Brazil faces unresolved legal issues regarding personnel privileges and immunities.

This briefing, prepared by the United States as Chair of the Implementation Committee for the Tripartite Structure of the IAI, evaluates the progress of a distributed governance model for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and recommends merging its directorates into a single entity based in Uruguay.