Search Climate Insights Directory

The IAI's Open Data and Science Working Group has developed an updated Open Access to Data and Publications Policy to align with global Open Science movements. The policy mandates that all data and publications from IAI-funded research be open, adhering to FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) and CARE (Collective benefit, Authority to control, Responsibility, and Ethics) principles. The report details progress in training 12 research teams and a 600% increase in the open data catalog from 2020 to 2025. It also outlines an implementation plan for 2025–2030 focused on increasing regional capacity for data reuse and supporting Indigenous data governance.

The report argues that the Korean Emissions Trading Scheme (K-ETS) is undermined by a reliance on low-quality international carbon credits, which lead to over-crediting and depressed carbon prices. Using the EU ETS as a benchmark, the authors demonstrate how the EU phased out international credits to prioritize domestic reductions. A specific analysis of cookstove projects eligible for K-ETS finds they likely overestimate emission reductions by a factor of 18.3. The report also highlights systemic issues with hydropower and gas leak reduction projects, including lack of additionality and environmental harm. It recommends that South Korea ban international credits from the K-ETS, strengthen emission caps, and avoid using unreliable bilateral cooperation projects under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement to meet its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

The document reports that as of March 31, 2025, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research had received 78% of the approved contributions for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. While overall expenses were 10% lower than budgeted, the Executive Directorate warns that delays in voluntary contributions significantly limit its operational capacity. The report also outlines projected voluntary contributions for the next three fiscal years, with the USA providing the largest share.

The IAI is requesting an operating budget of US$ 1.68 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, which remains unchanged from the previous year. Preliminary requests for subsequent years show a gradual increase, reaching US$ 1.8522 million by 2027-2028. The budget is funded by contributions from member countries, with the USA providing the largest share. The IAI reports administrative adjustments to optimize spending and a reduction in IT costs following its move to Panama.

This report by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) examines the complex nexus of climate change, migration, and justice. It argues that climate change acts as a risk multiplier that interacts with socio-economic and political factors rather than being a sole driver of migration. The document identifies eight key challenges—including the oversimplification of the climate-conflict-migration link, the risks of instrumentalizing migration as adaptation, and the impacts of slow-onset events—and proposes interdisciplinary, rights-based solutions. SEI highlights its strengths in analyzing transboundary climate impacts, conducting grounded comparative research to shift power dynamics, and fostering global cooperation for sustainable livelihoods through tools like AidAtlas and Trase.

The document details the specific research funding, fellowship programs, and institutional resources provided by the IAI to Bolivia. It highlights funded projects related to climate, health, and tropical forests, as well as the role of the National Representative and the STeP fellowship program for public officials.

The document details Colombia's participation in the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), highlighting its involvement in regional hydroclimatic and health-climate projects, the receipt of seed funding for research on climate and tropical forests, and the appointment of national representatives to scientific and indigenous advisory committees.

The document details the resources and opportunities provided by the IAI to Costa Rica, including seed funding for research on climate, health, and tropical forests, as well as capacity building in scientific diplomacy. It highlights specific projects such as the study of multidimensional vulnerability to dengue and diarrhea and fire management in the Trifinio Region, while listing available institutional resources like the IAI Virtual Campus and expert search tools.

The document details the scientific and financial support provided by the IAI to Guatemala, including US$ 120,000 in project funding, participation in the STeP Fellows program, and involvement in research on tropical forests, climate-health capacity, and fire management in the Trifinio Region. It also lists institutional resources such as the IAI Virtual Campus and opportunities for national representatives to join advisory committees.

The 2025 Progress Report details WWF's global initiatives to safeguard threatened species. Key achievements include the establishment of pangolin monitoring in southern Africa, the launch of the Elly Allies Initiative for Asian elephants, and the development of Shellbank, a DNA-based toolkit for sea turtle traceability. The report also highlights a 74% increase in wild tiger populations since 2010 and the formation of the Tribal Buffalo Lifeways Collaboration to restore bison to Native lands in the Great Plains.

The document reports that tropical dry forests in the Americas are highly endangered, with only 40% of their original extent remaining and only 4.5% protected. Satellite data from 1982 to 2006 shows divergent productivity trends: forests in the Brazilian Caatinga and parts of Mexico are losing productivity, while those in the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia, Northern Mexico, and the Chaco of Argentina and Bolivia are seeing increases. These shifts are linked to global warming's effect on rainfall and moisture. The text warns that productivity losses threaten carbon storage and water resources, while productivity gains may encourage further deforestation and agricultural intensification. It advocates for expanded protection beyond national parks, including economic incentives and sustainable land management.

The document reports that as of September 30, 2024, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research had received 38% of its member contributions for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Total accumulated expenditures for the first three months of the fiscal year were $375,107, which is 10.7% lower than the budgeted amount of $420,000. Reductions in spending were most notable in operating costs (-22.7%) and travel and training (-10.9%).

The report argues that the 'environment' pillar of One Health is often under-prioritized and proposes six key strategies—landscape immunity, wildlife trade regulation, preventive medicine, pathogen monitoring, sustainable livestock management, and behaviour change—to reduce zoonotic spillover and spillback. It emphasizes transdisciplinary collaboration, gender equity, and the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to create resilient ecosystems and improve public health outcomes.

The IAI Executive Directorate is implementing CoP-32 mandates by strengthening scientific communication, developing digital monitoring systems for its Strategic Plan, and establishing partnerships with institutions like CR2, FAPESC, and STRI. Key initiatives include the 'Tropical Forests' Collaborative Research Action (CRA), the 'Climate, Environment and Health' (CEH) program, and the creation of the Center for Science Diplomacy. The Directorate is also advancing gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) policies and establishing advisory committees for indigenous peoples and local communities.

The document examines the impacts of climate variability and economic fluctuations on coffee farmers in Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Costa Rica. It identifies that while climate change can push crops out of optimum ranges, farmers often perceive market volatility as a more immediate threat. Adaptation strategies include crop diversification, income diversification, and migration. The research emphasizes that effective adaptation requires better access to information, insurance, credit, and the capacity to organize into cooperatives. It also warns that removing shade trees for other crops increases risks of erosion and biodiversity loss. Finally, it argues that policy prescriptions must be tailored to local contexts, as slow-onset processes like climate change are often overlooked in favor of medium-term drivers.

The document examines the impacts of economic and climatic variability on coffee farmers in Mesoamerica. It finds that while climate change can push crops out of their optimal range, producers often perceive market volatility as a greater threat. Adaptation strategies include crop diversification and migration, while systemic improvements require better access to information, credit, insurance, and local organization. The text also warns that deforestation for alternative crops increases erosion and reduces carbon sinks, and notes that slow-onset processes like climate change are often neglected in political agendas compared to medium-term drivers.

In 2023, Global Witness documented 196 murders of land and environmental defenders, contributing to a total of 2,106 since 2012. Latin America remains the most dangerous region, accounting for 85% of 2023 cases, with Colombia recording the highest number of killings (79). The report highlights a systemic pattern of violence including forced disappearances in Mexico and judicial harassment in Asia. Mining is identified as the primary industrial driver of these killings. The document argues that indigenous peoples, who protect 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity, are disproportionately targeted. It calls for the implementation of the Escazú Agreement and greater inclusion of indigenous knowledge in global climate negotiations.

The document analyzes the 'stabilized text' of the JSI e-commerce agreement, which aims to establish a global benchmark for digital trade rules. It details enabling regulatory obligations, a moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions, and specific flexibilities for developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs), such as extended implementation timelines and technical assistance. The author highlights significant challenges, including the low participation of LDCs and African nations, disagreements among key members like the US and China, and a broader legal debate over whether plurilateral agreements can be formally incorporated into the WTO's consensus-based treaty system.

The report identifies six distinct climate audiences—Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive—across a global survey of 139,136 Facebook users. It finds that the 'Alarmed' group is the largest in approximately 77% of the surveyed areas, with the highest concentrations in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. Conversely, the 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive' groups are most prevalent in the Netherlands, Norway, and Libya. The analysis highlights a correlation between lower per-capita emissions and income and higher levels of climate alarm, while noting that the United States has a lower proportion of 'Alarmed' respondents compared to other top carbon-emitting nations.

A coalition of civil society organizations is urging the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to publicly release and transparently implement its new Remediation and Responsible Exit Framework. The statement argues that the IFC must recognize its international legal responsibility to repair damages caused by its projects and avoid the lack of disclosure that characterized previous pilot programs for Responsible Exit Principles.