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Nature-based solutions (NbS) are being integrated into climate strategies across Latin America and the Caribbean to address biodiversity loss and climate change. While they offer significant economic and ecological potential—such as protecting coastal resilience and sequestering carbon—they cannot replace the need for deep emissions reductions from fossil fuels. The document warns that vague definitions of NbS can lead to 'greenwashing' by polluting corporations and risk the displacement of Indigenous and local communities through land grabs and monoculture plantations. For NbS to be sustainable, the author argues they must be based on local knowledge, ensure Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), and be supported by diverse financing mechanisms beyond voluntary safeguards.

The IAI and DSG have entered into a two-year renewable agreement to cooperate on solar geoengineering (SG) governance and research. The partnership focuses on preparing IAI member states, particularly those most vulnerable to climate change, for participation in multilateral forums. Planned activities include co-organizing capacity-building workshops, co-producing knowledge products, and sharing research funding opportunities. The agreement outlines protocols for financial responsibilities, confidentiality, and dispute resolution through amicable negotiation.

This briefing from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the relocation of its headquarters from Montevideo, Uruguay, to Panama City, Panama.

The document reports that as of September 30, 2024, the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research had received 38% of its member contributions for the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Total accumulated expenditures for the first three months of the fiscal year were $375,107, which is 10.7% lower than the budgeted amount of $420,000. Reductions in spending were most notable in operating costs (-22.7%) and travel and training (-10.9%).

The IAI Executive Directorate is implementing CoP-32 mandates by strengthening scientific communication, developing digital monitoring systems for its Strategic Plan, and establishing partnerships with institutions like CR2, FAPESC, and STRI. Key initiatives include the 'Tropical Forests' Collaborative Research Action (CRA), the 'Climate, Environment and Health' (CEH) program, and the creation of the Center for Science Diplomacy. The Directorate is also advancing gender, equity, diversity, and inclusion (GEDI) policies and establishing advisory committees for indigenous peoples and local communities.

In 2023, Global Witness documented 196 murders of land and environmental defenders, contributing to a total of 2,106 since 2012. Latin America remains the most dangerous region, accounting for 85% of 2023 cases, with Colombia recording the highest number of killings (79). The report highlights a systemic pattern of violence including forced disappearances in Mexico and judicial harassment in Asia. Mining is identified as the primary industrial driver of these killings. The document argues that indigenous peoples, who protect 80% of the world's remaining biodiversity, are disproportionately targeted. It calls for the implementation of the Escazú Agreement and greater inclusion of indigenous knowledge in global climate negotiations.

In a speech delivered on 4 July 2024, WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam outlines the evolving relationship between the WTO and environmental protection. He notes a paradigm shift where climate change is now actively disrupting trade, citing examples like the Panama Canal drought. While the WTO has made progress through the 2022 Ministerial Declaration and the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, Paugam warns that uncoordinated national actions—such as the nearly 70 carbon tax schemes in development and varying green steel standards—risk fragmenting world trade. He advocates for a "reglobalization" approach that combines green industrialization with trade cooperation, suggesting the WTO may need to adopt new rule-making models, including plurilateral commitments or non-binding frameworks similar to the Paris Agreement, to remain relevant.

The Sustana Cooling India Fund is a USD 100 million blended capital equity fund designed to support early-growth companies in India's cooling sector. By utilizing a first-loss cushion and combining senior and subordinated equity, the fund aims to de-risk investments in energy-efficient space cooling and cold supply chains. The instrument targets the 'missing middle' of funding (pre-Series A/B stages) to drive both climate mitigation and adaptation, with a projected return of 18.04% in USD terms for limited partners.

The guidelines establish a framework for GSS+ labelled financial instruments in Panama, aligning with international standards like ICMA and the Climate Bonds Standard. It details the requirements for use-of-proceeds instruments (green, social, sustainability) and general-purpose sustainability-linked instruments, emphasizing transparency, external reviews, and impact reporting. The document also highlights Panama's Sustainable Finance Taxonomy and the broader sustainable debt market trends in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The document reports a violent forced eviction of Ngäbe indigenous families in Bocas del Toro, Panama, on July 17, 2024, involving the burning of homes and killing of livestock by riot police. It details the detention of between 50 and 90 community members, including women and minors, and argues that these events are the result of a systemic failure by the Panamanian government to grant collective land titles to indigenous peoples in 'áreas anexas' (adjacent areas) outside of comarcas. CIEL links this vulnerability to broader regional pressures from tourism, real estate, and infrastructure projects, specifically mentioning the IFC-backed Panama Line IV transmission project.

The report identifies six distinct climate audiences—Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive—across a global survey of 139,136 Facebook users. It finds that the 'Alarmed' group is the largest in approximately 77% of the surveyed areas, with the highest concentrations in Puerto Rico and other Latin American countries. Conversely, the 'Doubtful' and 'Dismissive' groups are most prevalent in the Netherlands, Norway, and Libya. The analysis highlights a correlation between lower per-capita emissions and income and higher levels of climate alarm, while noting that the United States has a lower proportion of 'Alarmed' respondents compared to other top carbon-emitting nations.

The document analyzes India's high import dependence on copper and the global supply risks—including geopolitical instability in producer nations and declining ore grades—that threaten its economic and energy goals. It proposes a four-pronged strategy: diversifying primary supply through strategic partnerships, reforming trade duties to encourage domestic value addition, providing production-linked incentives for the smelting and fabrication industry, and rationalizing the GST on copper scrap to formalize the recycling sector.

The report finds that human-induced climate change significantly increased the frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat globally from May 2023 to May 2024. Using the Climate Shift Index (CSI), the study determined that 6.3 billion people experienced at least 31 days of extreme heat made at least twice as likely by climate change. It identifies 76 extreme heat waves across 90 countries and highlights critical gaps in impact reporting, particularly in developing regions. The authors advocate for City Heat Action Plans and systemic adaptations to prevent heat-related fatalities.

The document is a participant list for the 32nd Meeting to the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, hosted by Bolivia and Canada on May 22-23, 2024. It identifies representatives from various member parties, advisory committees, and observers. Party representatives include officials from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Jamaica, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Uruguay. The list also includes members of the SAC and SPAC advisory committees, as well as observers from organizations such as the AAAS, Future Earth, and the Belmont Forum.

The document presents the report of the IAI's 2024 Extraordinary Meeting held on March 26, 2024, via videoconference. The primary outcome of the meeting was the consensus approval of Panama's proposal to host the IAI Executive Directorate's headquarters. The report also details the transition process from the current headquarters in Uruguay, with the Executive Director requesting that operations remain active in Uruguay until July 2025 to ensure a smooth relocation.

The document provides a comprehensive historical record of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) governance from 1997 to 2024. Key institutional developments include the adoption of the 2024-2030 Strategic Plan, the creation of the Science Diplomacy Center, and the implementation of Gender, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies. The records track the evolution of the IAI's scientific focus, including the establishment of research programs on the nexus of climate, environment, and health, as well as oceans and coastal systems. Administratively, the document details the transition of the IAI headquarters from Uruguay to Panama, the approval of annual core budgets, and the expansion of the institute's network through the invitation of various academic and research institutions as Associates.

The 32nd Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) approved the 2024-2025 core budget and adopted a new Strategic Plan for 2024-2030. The meeting expanded the institute's network by inviting the Center for Climate and Resilience Research of the University of Chile, the Santa Catarina Research and Innovation Foundation (FAPESC), and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) to become Associates. Additionally, the Conference initiated the process of transitioning the IAI Headquarters from Uruguay to Panama and instructed the Directorate to develop advisory committees for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.

This briefing document, prepared by the IAI Directorate, presents the report of the 2024 Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The primary purpose of the meeting, held via videoconference on 26 March 2024, was to review and decide upon a proposal from Panama to host the headquarters of the IAI Directorate.

The IAI is requesting an operating budget of US$ 1.68 million for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, an increase from US$ 1.4 million in 2023-2024. This growth is driven by the hiring of a Director of Communications, increased travel for strategic activities, and expanded outreach efforts. To fund this, the IAI proposes increasing country contributions by 20% for 2024-2025 and 5% in subsequent years, noting that delayed payments from some Parties are currently pressuring operational capacity.

The IAI's 2024-2025 work plan focuses on three main objectives: updating the IAI's Open Data Policy through participatory processes, enhancing the usability of its scientific and policy repositories, and supporting regional and global assessments, including those by the IPCC and United Nations.