Search Climate Insights Directory

This document is a list of participants for the 27th Executive Council (EC) Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 18, 2009.

The report evaluates the IAI's progress since 1994, highlighting its success in developing scientific capacity and high-quality natural science research. It identifies a critical need to improve the communication of scientific results to decision-makers and proposes a strategic focus on the human impacts of global change. The IAI intends to maintain its current broad scientific agenda while enhancing the methodology of implementation to foster deeper interaction between interdisciplinary scientists and policy-makers across the Americas.

The IAI's core budget request for FY 2009/2010 is US$1,163,117, a level similar to the previous year. The budget supports the management of the CRN II and SGP-HD programs, interdisciplinary training institutes, and the MacArthur Foundation-funded project on Andean biodiversity. Key financial allocations include US$777,477 for salaries and benefits and US$74,510 for travel. The budget is funded by contributions from member countries, with the United States providing the largest share at US$691,000.

The IAI's operational budget for the 2009/2010 fiscal year is proposed at US$ 1,163,117, maintaining a level similar to the previous year. The budget supports the administration of scientific programs such as CRN II and SGP-HD, capacity-building initiatives in the Andes and Chile, and the institute's observer status at the UNFCCC. Key financial adjustments include a reduction in salary supplements for locally contracted staff following negotiations with Brazil and an increase in the Director's Special Fund to US$ 60,000 to support activities in Cuba. The budget is primarily funded by member country contributions, with the United States providing the largest share at US$ 691,000.

The Bonn climate talks served as the first of six negotiating sessions in 2009 aimed at establishing a post-2012 climate regime. While the meetings produced no tangible results, they narrowed gaps between Parties on mitigation, adaptation, technology, and financing. Key tensions persist regarding the scale of emission reductions for developed countries, the role of the United States and China, and the governance of climate finance.

The document provides an overview of the Bonn climate talks, detailing progress and disputes across mitigation, adaptation, technology, and finance. It highlights the tension between 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches to emission reductions and the critical role of the United States' renewed engagement ahead of the 2009 Copenhagen summit.

The paper assesses how voluntary sustainability standards (VSS) affect global value chains in coffee, fisheries, and forestry. It finds that while VSS can create economic rents through improved organizational capacity and better relational ties, they often reinforce existing power imbalances. Market growth is largely driven by large retailers in North America and Europe, and certification costs frequently act as a barrier to the most marginalized producers in developing regions.

The IAI Directorate reports progress on the CRN II and SGP-HD programs, highlighting the leveraging of US$ 5.5 million in funding and the production of 108 peer-reviewed publications. Key achievements include the establishment of a phenology monitoring network in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and the delivery of training institutes on climate adaptation and remote sensing. The report also details the 'Assessment of research and institutional needs to cope with the effects of Climate Change on Andean Biodiversity' project and various international collaborations to integrate climate science into policy.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on the progress of the CRN II and SGP-HD programs, highlighting the creation of a phenology monitoring network in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and the integration of stakeholders in climate research. It details capacity-building workshops on climate adaptation and remote sensing, as well as specific regional initiatives in the Andes and the Plata Basin. The report also notes significant academic achievements, including Nobel Peace Prize recognition for several IAI-affiliated authors of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report.

The report evaluates the IAI's progress since 1994, noting its success in building scientific capacity and producing high-quality natural science. While the existing Science Agenda remains valid, the report argues for a strategic shift toward improving the translation of research into actionable guidance for decision-makers. It emphasizes the need for interdisciplinary collaboration—integrating social, economic, and health sciences with natural sciences—and suggests expanding the involvement of senior policy makers and industry leaders in the research process to enhance the societal relevance of global change science.

The IAI report for the period ending March 31, 2009, shows that 81% of approved contributions for the 2008/2009 fiscal year had been received. Total expenditures for the nine months ending March 2009 were US$739,671, which is 15.2% below the budgeted amount. The institute's cash balance decreased by 35.1% compared to March 2008, with current operating reserves covering two months of operations. Administrative updates include the completion of CRN II program audits, a transition from Banco de Brasil to Citibank for improved security, and staffing changes to reduce costs by approximately US$35,000 per year.

The document assesses the financial requirements for climate mitigation and adaptation in developing countries, noting that current public funding is insufficient. It details specific investment needs for 2030, analyzes existing funds like the GEF and Adaptation Fund, and examines various proposals for new revenue streams, including GDP-based levies, carbon market expansions, and international transport levies. The paper emphasizes the need for a structured approach to technology innovation and a predictable, grant-based system for adaptation.

The document analyzes the role of carbon markets in financing climate action in developing countries, estimating potential revenues and evaluating different market mechanisms. It argues that while the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has provided a starting point, expanding to sectoral and allocation-based mechanisms is necessary to cover the high-emitting electricity and industrial sectors of Major Developing Economies (MDEs). The paper proposes a phased approach to developing country participation, moving from broadened CDM and other market mechanisms for sustainable development (MMSDs) toward sectoral and economy-wide commitments, contingent on developed countries meeting their own stringent targets.

The report argues that preventing dangerous climate change requires the active participation of major developing economies (MDEs), as developed countries' actions alone are insufficient. It analyzes the current GHG emission trends in MDEs, the impact of the 2008 global economic crisis on climate finance, and the positions of key actors like the U.S., EU, and China. The authors propose a 'Phased Approach to a Safe Climate' that differentiates countries into Developed, Advanced Developing, and Other Developing categories, transitioning MDEs from voluntary nationally appropriate mitigation actions (NAMAs) to binding targets by 2020, provided developed countries demonstrate leadership and provide adequate financing and technology transfer.

The document provides a detailed review of the COP-14 proceedings in Poznań, Poland, focusing on the progress of two key working groups: the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties (AWG-KP). While the conference succeeded in establishing a timeline for full negotiations in 2009 and operationalizing the Adaptation Fund, it failed to reach significant breakthroughs on global emission targets or the second review of the Kyoto Protocol. The report highlights the critical role of the United States and China in the upcoming Copenhagen negotiations and details specific technical discussions on REDD, the Clean Development Mechanism, and technology transfer.

The testimony asserts that the U.S. has a critical opportunity to lead global climate action because major developing countries are now more willing to commit to emissions reductions than they were during the Kyoto Protocol era. It advocates for a new international agreement based on the Bali Action Plan's 'measurable, reportable and verifiable' (MRV) framework to ensure accountability. The author emphasizes that while developing nations' actions may focus on reducing emissions growth rather than absolute cuts, U.S. support in finance and technology—particularly for adaptation—is essential for a successful global deal.

The report examines the history and legal mechanisms used to construct barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border, specifically focusing on the 'Real ID Act' and 'Secure Fence Act'. It details how these laws allowed the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive nearly all federal and state laws, including environmental and historic preservation statutes, to expedite construction. The author highlights the resulting environmental damage in areas like the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, the disruption of Native American sacred sites, and the high financial costs of the project. It concludes by calling for a suspension of construction and a legislative review of the wall's effectiveness and constitutionality.

The document analyzes the landscape of emissions trading schemes (ETS) in North America, noting that while regional initiatives like the Western Climate Initiative (WCI) and Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are advanced, national efforts in the US and Canada face coordination challenges. It argues that linking is logical due to economic ties, but current designs—particularly Canada's intensity-based targets—create barriers to bilateral links with absolute-cap schemes. The author concludes that a US federal scheme would likely preempt most state schemes, while Canada may use equivalency agreements to allow provincial schemes to persist.

The policy brief examines the systemic failures of the WTO's negotiating process, highlighting how the 'single-undertaking' principle and consensus-based decision-making have led to paralysis. It argues that the diverse interests of 153 members—ranging from developed nations seeking new regulatory areas to poor countries struggling with existing obligations—make universal consensus increasingly unworkable. The author suggests that 'critical mass' plurilateral agreements, as outlined in the Warwick Report, offer a viable middle ground to maintain the multilateral system while allowing flexible progress for subsets of members.

The report estimates that Belize's coral reefs and mangroves contribute between US$395 million and US$559 million annually to the national economy, representing a significant portion of the country's US$1.3 billion GDP (2007). The highest value is derived from shoreline protection (US$231–$347 million) and tourism (US$150–$196 million), while commercial fisheries contribute US$14–$16 million. Despite these high values, the report argues that investment in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) is insufficient, citing the Glover's Reef Marine Reserve as a case study where annual economic contributions of US$4.9–$7.3 million are supported by only approximately US$100,000 in government management funding.