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The 1992 agreement establishes the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) to coordinate scientific research on global change in the Americas. The IAI is structured as a regional network with four primary organs: the Conference of the Parties (policy-making), the Executive Council (executive), the Scientific Advisory Committee (scientific advice), and the Directorate (administration). Its objectives include promoting interdisciplinary research on earth, ocean, and atmospheric sciences, improving research infrastructure, and providing scientific information to governments for public policy. The initial Scientific Agenda focuses on tropical ecosystems, climate change impacts on biodiversity, El Niño Southern Oscillation, and high latitude processes. Funding is based on voluntary contributions from Parties and Associates, with operational expenses supported by pledges in increments of US$ 5,000.

The briefing argues that the IAI must expand its capacity for scientific synthesis and integration to bridge the gap between research and policy. It emphasizes that a flexible, non-hierarchical organizational structure is essential for the IAI to effectively translate complex global change data into actionable information for regional decision-makers, while cautioning against the introduction of rigid hierarchical roles.