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The document details the transition of the IAI to a tripartite structure with directorates in Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. It reports that the Science-Policy Liaison Directorate in Buenos Aires is operational, while the Integrated Operations and Finance Directorate in Montevideo awaits parliamentary ratification and the Science Development Directorate in Brazil is under review. Additionally, it notes a failed attempt at electronic voting for SAC vacancies due to lack of quorum and warns of a looming membership continuity crisis in the SAC. The report also mentions the IAI's participation in the ENSOCIO-LA project and the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean.

The report details the transition of the IAI to a tripartite management scheme with offices in Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil. While agreements are in place and staff appointed in Argentina and Uruguay, the agreement with Brazil remains under study. Additionally, the report highlights a critical lack of continuity in the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) due to unfilled vacancies and expiring mandates, and notes the IAI's participation in the ENSOCIO-LA project and the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) for America and the Caribbean.

The document outlines a proposed carbon tax for South Africa, starting at R120 per tCO2-eq in 2015 with annual increases of 10% through 2019. It argues that a carbon tax is more suitable than an emissions trading system (ETS) in the short term due to the oligopolistic nature of the domestic energy sector. The design includes a basic tax-free threshold of 60%, with additional allowances for trade-exposed and process-emission sectors, and the possibility of using carbon offsets to reduce tax liability. Economic modelling suggests the tax would have a largely neutral impact on GDP and employment if revenues are recycled effectively through tax shifting or government investment. The paper also details complementary flagship programmes in energy efficiency, renewable energy, and public transport to support a just transition.

The project uses proxy data from lagoon sediments, stalagmites, tree-rings, and corals to analyze past hurricane activity. Key findings indicate that higher hurricane activity correlates with warmer sea surface temperatures and specific climate patterns like the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Research in Nicaragua and Belize suggests an anti-phase relationship in landfall activity between Central America and the eastern Caribbean/U.S. East coast, influenced by the inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and subtropical anticyclone. Additionally, the project identifies the Low-Level Jet (IALLJ) as a critical factor for sea surface temperatures and moisture advection. Demographic data highlights that approximately 19 million people in the conterminous U.S. live in vulnerable areas less than 1 km from the coastline.

The research project examines how certification mechanisms for ecosystem services affect the livelihoods, adaptive capacity, and environment of small coffee producers in Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica. The study aims to balance the potential costs and benefits of these certifications and analyze their influence on local microclimate regulation and plantation productivity in the context of climate change. Initial progress includes the development of research protocols, the installation of four weather stations in pest-critical areas, and the selection of a sample of certified and non-certified producers.

Over 440 labour and social lawyers from Europe have issued a manifesto calling on the European Union to protect fundamental social rights against the pressures of the economic and financial crisis. The signatories argue that austerity measures and labour market deregulaton—often forced by the 'troika' (IMF, European Commission, and ECB)—are undermining collective bargaining, increasing poverty, and threatening the viability of the European project. They urge the EU to adhere to the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, asserting that high labour and social standards are essential pre-conditions for sustainable economic development.

The report assesses worldwide methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, estimating 2010 emissions at 1,554 MMTCO2e. It argues that methane is a critical target for short-term climate mitigation due to its 20-year global warming potential (GWP) being 72 times that of carbon dioxide. The document details over 80 abatement technologies, such as vapor recovery units and infrared leak imaging cameras, while analyzing barriers including government price controls, lack of industry knowledge, and the complexities of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

The report identifies synergies and trade-offs between climate change mitigation, adaptation, and food security in the agricultural sector. It evaluates existing international funding mechanisms—including carbon markets, multilateral funds, and Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs)—and proposes the creation of domestic 'gatekeeper institutions' to coordinate resources and overcome implementation fragmentation for smallholders.

The report finds that while global economic impacts of market-based measures (MBMs) for international aviation and shipping are small, effects vary significantly by country. Small, remote island states dependent on air tourism, such as Samoa, face the highest GDP risks, while large economies like China and India experience minimal impacts. The study concludes that MBM revenues and increased demand for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) offsets can be used to mitigate these undesired economic effects.

The Vietnam Green Growth Strategy (VGGS), approved in September 2012, seeks to restructure the economy for resource efficiency and sustainable growth. It sets specific targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption per unit of GDP by 2020, 2030, and 2050. Implementation is managed by an Inter-ministerial Coordinating Board and supported by a blend of public, private, and international financing, including the Green Climate Fund and potential carbon taxes.

The document identifies five primary drivers for adopting CCD: national awareness of climate adaptation needs, the pursuit of energy security and resource efficiency, the desire to capture new green economic opportunities, the goal of improving access to climate finance, and strong government leadership. Conversely, it outlines seven key challenges: high implementation and opportunity costs, opposition from vested interest groups, lack of reliable data on risks and trade-offs, political short-termism, limited state capacity, institutional constraints (such as inter-ministerial conflict), and technological uncertainties. The paper suggests solutions including the use of carbon markets, participatory dialogue processes, the integration of climate goals into long-term legislation, and the creation of inter-ministerial committees with direct accountability to the presidency.

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD), defined as a "development first" approach that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emissions, resilient future. Drawing on experience from over 40 countries, the paper identifies key sociopolitical drivers—such as national resilience needs, energy security, and economic opportunities—and outlines significant barriers, including high implementation costs, political resistance, and institutional capacity gaps.

The document identifies five key drivers for Climate Compatible Development (CCD)—national adaptation needs, energy security, new economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and strong government leadership—while detailing seven primary obstacles, including high opportunity costs, political resistance, and institutional constraints. It provides case studies from over 40 countries to illustrate how these factors interact and suggests solutions such as multi-stakeholder dialogue, legislative anchoring, and risk-sharing financial mechanisms.

The paper identifies five key drivers for CCD: national adaptation needs, energy security and resource efficiency, new economic opportunities, access to climate finance, and strong government leadership. It also outlines seven primary challenges, including high implementation and opportunity costs, opposition from vested interest groups, lack of trusted data, short-term political thinking, limited state capacity, institutional constraints, and technological uncertainties. The authors argue that managing the political economy of CCD is essential for overcoming these barriers.

The report argues that stricter chemical laws do not impede innovation but rather accelerate it by pushing companies to develop safer alternatives. Using case studies on phthalates and CFCs, it demonstrates that regulatory pressure correlates with spikes in patent filings. However, it highlights the danger of 'regrettable substitution,' where hazardous chemicals are replaced by structurally similar ones with unknown risks. The document concludes that for innovation to create a safer marketplace, laws must shift the burden of proof for safety to manufacturers, internalize environmental and health costs, and ensure transparent access to hazard information.

The project seeks to extend the historical record of landfalling cyclones back to 1500, investigate lightning as a proxy for intensification, and utilize high-resolution ocean and atmospheric models (HWRF) to improve storm surge and track forecasts. Initial findings indicate that lightning distribution differs between westward-tracking cyclones and those that re-curve and make landfall, with the latter showing more lightning in outer bands. Preliminary HWRF simulations at 3-km resolution still exhibit significant errors in track, intensity, and landfall location.

The document examines the internal and external financial sustainability of public-private partnerships (PPPs), emphasizing the role of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), project finance, and risk allocation. It argues that while PPPs can address infrastructure deficits, they require rigorous contracts and governance to ensure value for money. The briefing also suggests that PPPs can be used to promote green jobs, energy efficiency, and social equity through thoughtful design and political will.

The report identifies Honduras as highly vulnerable to climate hazards, particularly droughts and tropical cyclones, which threaten the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and national development goals. It highlights significant gaps in climate data, institutional coordination, and adaptive capacity, while proposing a suite of local actions—such as improved water management and agroforestry—and national policy mainstreaming to reduce vulnerability.

The paper assesses the technical parameters used to calculate emission reductions for improved cookstoves, specifically focusing on biomass fuel consumption, the fraction of non-renewable biomass, and emission factors. It identifies significant uncertainties in current Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Gold Standard methodologies, noting that reliance on laboratory tests like the Water Boiling Test often fails to reflect real-world performance. The authors argue that current accounting may under-credit projects by ignoring non-CO2 gases and black carbon, and by using fossil fuel emission factors as surrogates for biomass. The document recommends incorporating uncertainty accounting, refining monitoring through data loggers, and developing more localized, sub-national assessments for non-renewable biomass.

The document argues that the global energy system is driven by neoliberalism and extractivism, benefiting a small elite while causing climate devastation and energy poverty. It critiques both fossil fuels and certain 'clean' alternatives—such as mega-dams and industrial biofuels—as destructive. The authors advocate for a decentralized, democratically controlled energy system that prioritizes human rights and ecological limits over corporate profit.