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The paper examines the instrumental link between income inequality and social trust, which is considered essential for the collective action required for sustainability. Using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) on World Values Survey data from 20 country-year combinations, the author finds that both absolute income and income inequality significantly influence social trust. Specifically, trust rises with income but falls as income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) increases. The analysis suggests that neither economic growth nor redistribution alone is sufficient to significantly raise trust levels in low-trust societies; instead, a combination of stable growth and narrowing income distributions over approximately two decades is required to produce meaningful changes in social cohesion.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) announced the passing of Lee Schipper on August 16, 2011. Schipper co-founded EMBARQ, WRI's Center for Sustainable Transport, and was recognized for his leadership in developing data-driven sustainable transportation solutions. His professional career included roles as a project scientist at UC Berkeley's Global Metropolitan Studies and a Senior Research Engineer at Stanford University's Precourt Institute of Energy Efficiency. Schipper authored over 100 publications on energy, transportation, and the environment, and expanded EMBARQ's operations into China, India, and Mexico.

The IAI activities plan for 2011-2012 focuses on renewing its training and scientific programs, including the launch of a new series of Training Institutes and the potential establishment of a Centre of Excellence on water security. Key initiatives include a MacArthur Foundation-funded project on biodiversity in the Tropical Andes and a renewed internship agreement with INPE/CPTEC. The document also notes a need for greater operational stability within the IAI Directorate to manage increasing workloads.

Dr. Edwin Lyman of the Union of Concerned Scientists testifies that small modular reactors (SMRs) do not offer clear economic advantages over large reactors and may introduce greater safety, security, and proliferation risks. He argues that S. 512 should require the Department of Energy to prioritize designs that significantly exceed current safety standards rather than those relying on weakened regulations. Additionally, he cautions against statutory deadlines for NRC licensing and suggests that S. 1067 explicitly link cost-reduction research with the enhancement of safety and security.

The briefing describes Angola's political system as a hybrid of a formal government ruled by the MPLA and a more resilient 'shadow' government controlled by President José Eduardo Dos Santos. This shadow structure, powered by the national oil company Sonangol, manages international policy, money supply, and security independently of formal ministries. The author argues that recent legislative changes, including the 2010 constitution, have formalized the president's unlimited power and weakened the formal state's autonomy. While the regime maintains stability through a vast patronage network, the document identifies internal tensions within the MPLA and the risks of uncontrolled corruption as primary threats to the system's reproduction.

The report details the outcomes of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) programs, specifically the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN II), Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and an IDRC-funded project on the Río de la Plata basin. Key findings highlight the vulnerability of Andean cloud forests, the impact of land-use changes on hydrology in the Río de la Plata basin, and the increasing frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean. The document emphasizes the 'value added' by integrating social and economic sciences (Human Dimensions) to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation, citing specific influences on forest protection laws in Brazil and glacier protection legislation in Argentina.

The document examines the critical role of MRV in the successful implementation of REDD+, highlighting the need for standardized forest definitions and robust Reference Emission Levels (RELs). It discusses the 'nested approach' to link subnational and national monitoring, the trade-offs between cost and accuracy across IPCC reporting tiers, and the institutional and technical capacity gaps in developing countries. Using examples from Indonesia, Brazil, and others, it argues for inclusive, transparent, and potentially regionalized MRV frameworks to ensure the credibility of carbon credits.

The document serves as a comprehensive manual for professionals and decision-makers on the safe and effective application of human urine in agriculture. It details the nutrient composition of urine, provides evidence from global field trials showing yields comparable to mineral fertilizers, and outlines a 'multiple barrier' risk management strategy based on WHO guidelines to prevent pathogen transmission. The guide also addresses the economic value of urine, institutional frameworks for implementation, and provides a specific local guideline example for Niger.

The IAI is transitioning toward a 'Center of Excellence' model for water security, headquartered at the University of Arizona and the Universidad Católica de Santiago, to better integrate transdisciplinary research on hydrology and climate. Scientific synthesis has highlighted that biophysical changes in land use, such as albedo and evapotranspiration, are as critical as biogeochemical effects. The Institute has expanded its capacity-building through training institutes in Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, focusing on seasonal climate predictions and urban responses to climate change. Administratively, the IAI faces significant instability due to personnel contracting issues in Brazil and a lack of official response from the Brazilian government regarding host country agreement amendments, leading the Executive Board to seek alternative host countries.

The IAI Directorate Report for 2011 details the transition toward establishing 'Centers of Excellence' for water security, the synthesis of research on land-use and climate interactions, and the implementation of regional training institutes. It highlights scientific findings on the importance of climate volatility over long-term trends and the role of biophysical changes in land-use. The report also addresses significant operational challenges in Brazil, including staffing instability and unresolved host country agreement amendments, while noting renewed financial and political engagement from several member countries.

The report details the progress of the Second Collaborative Research Network (CRNII), the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and an IDRC-funded project on the La Plata Basin. Key findings include the impact of land-use change on hydrology in the La Plata Basin, the vulnerability of Andean cloud forests and glaciers, and the development of urban pollution forecasting for Latin American cities. The document emphasizes the role of 'Human Dimensions' projects in bridging the science-policy divide, providing evidence for forest protection laws in Brazil and Argentina, and improving water management strategies in Chile and Mexico. It also highlights the capacity building achieved through scholarships and workshops for over 1,600 students across the programs.

The report details the progress of the Second Collaborative Research Network (CRNII), the Small Grants Program for the Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), and an IDRC-funded project on the La Plata Basin. It highlights the integration of social and economic research into natural sciences to bridge the science-policy divide, resulting in 343 joint scientific publications and significant capacity building for over 1,600 students. Key findings include the impact of land-use change on hydrology in the La Plata Basin, the vulnerability of Andean cloud forests and glaciers, and the influence of ocean currents on fisheries and carbon sequestration in the South Atlantic. The document also notes direct policy contributions, such as informing the National Glacier Protection Law in Argentina and updating urban decontamination plans in Bogotá and Medellín.

The 30th IAI Executive Council meeting focused on governance, strategic planning, and member engagement. Key outcomes included the election of a new Board, the establishment of a working group for a new Strategic Plan, and efforts to revitalize relationships with non-participatory member countries. The Council also discussed the synthesis of the CRN Program, balancing the continuity of established research networks with the need to recruit new scientific groups, and coordinated potential activities at the UNFCCC in Cancún.

The research investigates the risk of 'double-counting' international offsets, where both the buying developed country and the supplying developing country claim the same emission reduction toward their pledges. Using a spreadsheet model based on McKinsey abatement cost curves, the authors find that if offsets count twice, global abatement could be reduced by up to 1.6 billion tons CO2e in 2020. This dilution could increase the existing emissions gap by as much as 20%, potentially hindering the goal of limiting warming to 2°C. The paper compares this to a 'Buyer Only' scenario and proposes remedies such as shared crediting, partitioning eligible sectors, and implementing a common international transaction tracking mechanism.

The report examines ten indigenous carbon market projects across Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. It highlights diverse methodologies—including afforestation, avoided deforestation, and traditional fire management—to demonstrate how carbon revenues can support environmental, cultural, and economic goals. The document identifies systemic challenges such as a lack of federal policy, difficulties with third-party verification of tribal land governance, and the technical complexity of proving 'additionality'. It recommends participatory planning, the use of voluntary markets for 'co-benefits', and the development of indigenous-specific verification resources to ensure local ownership and sustainability.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) reported total revenue of $39,871,632 and total expenses of $37,145,082 for the 2009 tax year. Its primary mission is to "MOVE HUMAN SOCIETY TO LIVE IN WAYS THAT PROTECT EARTH'S ENVIRONMENT". The organization operates several key programs focusing on climate, energy, pollution, ecosystem degradation, and urban mobility, with significant grantmaking and program activities conducted both within the United States and internationally, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and South America.

The report argues that the UNFCCC process became dysfunctional following the 'debacle' of COP 15 in Copenhagen, specifically regarding the use of small negotiating groups and 'chairs' texts'. To remedy this, the author proposes a 'politically balanced' model for selecting representatives to small groups to ensure legitimacy and inclusiveness. The report also suggests increasing transparency for informal consultations through calls for expressions of interest and virtual participation (webcasting). Finally, it recommends a structured approach to High-Level Segments, where ministers provide political guidance on a small number of 'crunch issues' through a sequential schedule of briefing, negotiating, and debriefing, while keeping heads of state and government in 'extracurricular' roles.

The report documents the negative impacts of Holcim's cement and mining activities in Latin America, focusing on the destruction of aquifers and landscapes, air pollution, and health crises. It highlights the use of 'co-processing' to incinerate hazardous waste and criticizes the role of Free Trade Agreements and international arbitration (CIADI) in protecting corporate interests over community rights. Specific cases include the criminalization of Maya Kaqchikel communities in Guatemala, the degradation of the Tunjuelo River in Bogotá, and neurotoxic acrylates emissions in Mexico. The document concludes by detailing a 2010 complaint filed against Holcim at the Permanent Peoples' Tribunal in Madrid.

The report analyzes the trend of states integrating transparency rules directly into investment treaties to overcome the confidentiality typical of private commercial arbitration. It evaluates best practices across various stages of the dispute process, including public notice of proceedings, access to documents, open hearings, amicus curiae briefs, and the publication of final awards, while detailing how confidential business information is protected.

The Cancun Climate Summit is characterized as a moderate success that restored faith in the multilateral process following the Copenhagen summit. Key outcomes included the first official UN agreement to keep global temperature increases below 2°C, the recognition of voluntary emission reduction plans for 2020, and the establishment of financial mechanisms for developing countries, including a 30 billion dollar transfer for 2010-2012 and the creation of the Green Climate Fund. While the summit made progress on measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and forest protection (REDD+), it left the decision on a second Kyoto Protocol period to the 2011 Durban summit. The authors attribute the success to the leadership of the Mexican government and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.