Search Climate Insights Directory

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is forming a committee to recruit a new Executive Director, as the current term ends on 31 May 2023. Interested Parties must apply by 9 September 2022. The committee will review nominations, interview candidates, and provide recommendations to the Conference of the Parties during an extraordinary meeting tentatively scheduled for February 2023.

This document is a list of participants for the 53rd Meeting of the Executive Council to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held on 14 June 2022 in Montevideo and via videoconference.

The document outlines the logistical arrangements for the COP-30 and the 53rd Executive Council meeting of the IAI held on June 14-15, 2022, in Montevideo, Uruguay. It details the venue at Hotel Hyatt Centric, accommodation options, transportation from Carrasco Airport, and registration procedures. Additionally, it specifies COVID-19 entry requirements for vaccinated, previously infected, and unvaccinated foreign citizens, alongside practical information on visas, currency (Uruguayan Peso), electricity (220V), and local weather conditions for June.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is seeking nominations for three vacancies on its advisory committees: two for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and one for the Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC). The nominations are to be finalized during the 30th Conference of the Parties (CoP) on June 14-15, 2022. The IAI emphasizes the need for international scientific recognition, interdisciplinary experience, and a balance of gender, ethnicity, and geography, specifically noting underrepresentation in North America, Central America, the Caribbean, and the Southern Cone.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) is seeking comments on a new policy designed to enhance gender balance and equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) within its scientific projects and capacity building activities. The policy aims to ensure the equitable participation of underrepresented groups and reduce bias in the implementation of IAI activities in the Americas. Feedback is requested by 22 April 2022 for submission at COP-30 in Montevideo.

The document outlines the logistical arrangements for the COP-30 and EC-53 meetings held on 14-15 June 2022 in Montevideo, Uruguay. It specifies the venue as the Hyatt Centric hotel and provides details on lodging, transport via Carrasco Airport, and registration. The text also details entry requirements for Uruguay, including COVID-19 vaccination or testing protocols, visa information, and local practicalities such as the 220V electrical voltage, the Uruguayan Peso currency, and typical June weather conditions.

The document outlines the operational regulations for the IAI's Executive Council, including the election of its nine members, the scheduling of pre- and post-Conference of the Parties (CoP) meetings, and the procedures for voting and agenda setting. It defines the roles of the Board of Directors, the Executive Director, and various ad hoc commissions, while specifying that decisions are generally made by consensus or majority vote.

This briefing document outlines the establishment of a whistleblower policy for the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), as mandated by Decision XXVIII/5. The policy, integrated into the revised IAI employee handbook, provides a mechanism for staff to report wrongdoing to the IAI Executive Council with guarantees against retaliation. The document also includes the full text of the revised IAI Employee Handbook, detailing recruitment, compensation, benefits, performance reviews, and travel policies.

The IAI and PAGES have agreed to collaborate on the "International mobility research Fellowship Program for Latin American and Caribbean early career scientists on past global changes". The program targets PhD students in their final stages or postdoctoral researchers who are citizens of Latin American or Caribbean countries. Eligible candidates must conduct research in a host institution within Latin America or the Caribbean that is not their home country, focusing on topics within the scope of PAGES. The program aims to promote collaborative research, open science, and a better understanding of Earth's past climate to inform future projections and sustainability strategies. IAI is responsible for financial management and reporting, while both entities collaborate on the call for applications and the selection of awardees. The program intended for the first fellows to begin their mobility in early 2022.

The joint report by the SAC and SPAC details their collaborative activities between sessions, including the revision of the IAI Scientific Agenda, the editorial process for a CRN3 special edition, and the creation of working groups focused on COVID-19, strategic plan indicators, and regional assessment models.

The document outlines the governance, membership, and operational procedures of the IAI Executive Council, including the transition to virtual meetings.

The IAI Standing Committee on Rules and Procedures proposed a revised set of Rules of Procedure for the 29th Conference of the Parties (CoP-29) to address the need for virtual meetings. The revised rules establish protocols for participant accreditation, the organization of annual and extraordinary conferences, voting procedures, and the election of the Executive Director and advisory committees. Key updates include the explicit allowance for CoP meetings to be held via electronic videoconference systems when travel is restricted.

The document analyzes the widespread eutrophication of Uruguay's aquatic ecosystems, identifying agricultural intensification as the primary driver of nutrient pollution, particularly phosphorus. It details how climate change exacerbates these symptoms and describes the public health risks posed by toxic cyanobacterial blooms, such as those from the Microcystis aeruginosa complex. The authors argue that current soil conservation practices, like no-till farming, may inadvertently increase soluble phosphorus runoff. They recommend a transition toward neutral or negative phosphorus balances, the use of catch crops, and a shift from a centralized to a decentralized, multi-actor water governance model to effectively mitigate the crisis.

The document details the operations of a national seed network in Uruguay comprising over 350 family farms. It highlights the network's commitment to preserving local seed varieties to reduce corporate dependency and its advocacy for the National Agroecology Plan (PNA). The text also describes specific agroecological techniques used by members and the network's role in providing food security during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

The joint report by the SAC and SPAC details the current membership status of both committees, including vacancies and upcoming elections for the 28th Conference of the Parties. It outlines collaborative activities conducted between August 2019 and June 2020, including eight teleconferences focused on the IAI scientific agenda, funding opportunities, and the creation of a COVID-19 working group. The committees also contributed to the review of the IAI Scientific Agenda, the editorial process for a special CRN3 edition, and a five-year proposal submitted to the NSF regarding science-informed policy in the Americas.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has set a new deadline of July 17, 2020, for the nomination of qualified members to its Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC). This follows the rescheduling of the CoP-28 conference to August 19, 2020. The notification outlines the composition of the SAC, the specific vacancies arising from the end of terms for members from Mexico, Brazil, and Ecuador, and the resignation of a member from Brazil. It details the nomination process, the requirements for candidates—emphasizing scientific excellence and interdisciplinary experience—and the election procedures to be conducted during CoP-28.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research is seeking nominations for five members of its Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) by May 1, 2020. The committee is designed to provide guidance on the application of science in policy formulation and decision-making. Candidates must possess extensive experience in science-policy interfaces, global change issues, and the cultural diversity of the Americas.

The document is a formal agreement between the IAI and CREA to collaborate on projects involving global change, agro-industry, and natural resources. It outlines the objective of strengthening local and regional capacities to face climate challenges and defines the administrative terms of the partnership, including intellectual property, dispute resolution, and a five-year duration.

The Interinstitutional Working Group on Inclusive Green Economy in Uruguay, supported by GIZ and the PAGE initiative, has empowered government officials as 'change agents' to mainstream inclusive green economy (IGE) principles across various ministries. Through capacity-building in project and change management, the group coordinated specific environmental projects—such as tire reuse, industrial competitiveness in the St. Lucia Basin, and a green tourism label—and promoted green public management within government agencies. These efforts contributed to Uruguay becoming a PAGE country in 2017 and improved the management of international commitments like the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on its five-year communication plan to better integrate scientific data into policy. Key achievements include a MOOC reaching 10,000 participants, a significant increase in social media engagement, and collaborations with UN agencies (UNOSSC, UNFCCC) on publications regarding urban climate management and coastal loss and damage. The IAI also produced eight synthesis reports on regional environmental issues and held high-level events at COP-24 and the AGU Centennial.