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The IAI Science and Open Data Committee's 2024–2025 work plan focuses on three main objectives: updating the IAI Open Data Policy through participatory processes and best practice guidelines; enhancing the usability of data platforms, including the scientific publications repository and the Harvard Dataverse catalog; and supporting regional and global assessments, such as UN common country analyses and IPCC evaluations on cities and climate change.

This briefing document outlines the process for relocating the headquarters of the Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) from Uruguay to Panama, following a decision by the Conference of the Parties on 26 March 2024.

The IAI Executive Directorate is relocating its headquarters to Panama following a decision by the Conference of the Parties on March 26, 2024. The transition involves drafting a Headquarters Agreement to be approved by the National Assembly of Panama, with the process expected to align with the new government taking office on July 1, 2024. To ensure operational continuity, the IAI has requested that its current diplomatic privileges and bank accounts in Uruguay be extended until July 31, 2025.

The IAI and COIBA-AIP have agreed to a five-year partnership to strengthen regional capacities for addressing global change. The cooperation focuses on biodiversity, climate change, and the inclusion of indigenous and local communities, with a specific emphasis on the Coiba National Park World Natural Heritage Site. Key activities include sharing technical information, developing joint funding proposals, and facilitating COIBA-AIP's participation in the Belmont Forum.

The Kuali Fund-GCF is a blended finance programme designed to catalyze private investment for climate mitigation and adaptation in Latin America and the Caribbean. It targets small financial service providers (FSPs) and innovative climate companies to bridge the financing gap for SMEs and smallholder farmers. The fund employs a 'Green Index 3.0' to transform FSPs into 'Super Green' institutions that offer sustainable financial products. With a total financing of 128.2 million Euros, including 32.8 million Euros from the Green Climate Fund, the programme aims to avoid 2,707,455 tons of CO2 equivalent and reach over 242,000 direct beneficiaries over a 10-12 year lifespan.

The IAI Executive Directorate is relocating its headquarters to Panama following a decision by the Conference of the Parties. The transition involves drafting a Headquarters Agreement to be approved by the National Assembly of Panama, with the process expected to proceed after the Panamanian general elections on May 5, 2024. To ensure operational continuity, the IAI has requested that its current facilities and diplomatic privileges in Uruguay remain active until July 31, 2025.

The IAI Directorate is relocating its headquarters to Panama following a decision by the Conference of the Parties. The transition involves drafting a Host Country Agreement to be approved by the National Assembly of Panama after the 5 May 2024 general elections. To ensure operational continuity, the IAI has requested that its headquarters in Uruguay remain operational, including bank accounts and diplomatic privileges, until 31 July 2025.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research reports that as of March 31, 2024, cash income reached 70% of approved contributions for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. Total expenditures for the period from July 2023 to March 2024 were US$ 832,446, which is 10.8% lower than the budgeted US$ 933,333. The report highlights a significant loss in purchasing power for Parties maintaining contributions at the US$ 5,000 level and urges those in arrears to submit voluntary contributions to ensure the Executive Directorate can fulfill its mandate.

The 2024 Extraordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held via videoconference on 26 March 2024, resulted in the consensus approval of Panama's proposal to host the IAI Directorate headquarters. The meeting included discussions on the transition from the current headquarters in Uruguay, with the IAI Executive Director requesting that operations remain active in Uruguay until July 2025 to ensure a smooth move. Panama's proposal was highlighted for its strategic location, potential for greater connectivity across the region, and increased engagement with Central America and the Caribbean.

The report finds that while many countries are reducing coal capacity, global operational capacity grew by 2% in 2023 to 2,130 GW, driven largely by China. While new construction reached a historic low outside China, it hit an eight-year high within China. Only 15% of global operational capacity has a retirement commitment aligned with the 1.5°C goal. In Latin America, capacity is gradually decreasing, though some countries like Colombia and Mexico lack concrete phase-out plans, and Brazil has seen some retirement dates postponed.

The IAI Science Diplomacy Center (SDC) is a regional initiative designed to foster science-policy dialogue and collaboration in the Americas, particularly Latin America and the Caribbean. Between 2023 and April 2024, the SDC established three priority pillars: Capacity Building, a Knowledge Hub, and Emerging/Evolving/Innovation Issues. Key achievements include the launch of a Science Diplomacy Training Program for Policy Makers, the expansion of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program, and the development of a specialized science diplomacy curriculum with the University of Sao Paulo. The SDC is also building a Knowledge Hub to map experts, bibliography, and events, while engaging in strategic partnerships with organizations such as AAAS, UNESCO, and DiploCientifica to secure funding and expand regional training.

Panama is proposing to host the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). The proposal highlights Panama's strategic geography, the infrastructure of the City of Knowledge (Ciudad del Saber), and the country's commitment to climate action and biodiversity conservation as key advantages. By relocating the headquarters from Uruguay to Panama, the IAI aims to overcome logistical limitations and increase engagement with the 16 non-member countries in the Americas, most of which are in Central America and the Caribbean. The proposal includes detailed commitments for office space, diplomatic privileges, and financial contributions for investment and annual operations.

The document asserts that high-emitting States have breached international obligations to prevent significant transboundary harm and protect human rights by allowing cumulative greenhouse gas emissions to degrade the global climate system. It argues that these breaches constitute internationally wrongful acts under the law of State responsibility, requiring States to cease wrongful conduct and provide full reparation—including restitution, compensation, and satisfaction—for material and moral injuries. The memorandum emphasizes that international climate agreements like the Paris Agreement do not preclude these reparations and suggests that the burden of proof for causation should shift to responsible States given the available attribution science.

This briefing document outlines the process for relocating the headquarters of the Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) following the Uruguayan Government's decision to terminate its Host Country Agreement.

The document outlines the process for relocating the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). Due to financial limitations, Uruguay notified the IAI on January 31, 2024, that it would terminate the Headquarters Agreement effective July 31, 2024. Panama expressed interest in hosting the Directorate in December 2023 and submitted a formal proposal on March 8, 2024, after being the only country to manifest interest. The briefing recommends that the Conference of the Parties approve Panama's proposal during its extraordinary meeting on March 26, 2024.

The Kuali Fund-GCF Gender Assessment analyzes gender disparities in the financial and agricultural sectors across Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Panama. It identifies systemic barriers—including limited access to credit, land ownership gaps, and the burden of unpaid care work—that hinder women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and female smallholder farmers. The report argues that women are more vulnerable to climate change and face a significant financing gap, which the fund aims to address through a Gender Action Plan (GAP) involving technical assistance, gender-responsive financial products, and capacity building for financial service providers (FSPs).

This briefing by Somos El Cambio explains the necessity of the energy transition, defined as phasing out fossil fuels in favor of renewable sources and more efficient energy use to mitigate global warming. It highlights the economic and environmental benefits of this shift, particularly for Latin America and the Caribbean, while emphasizing the need for fairness and equity to avoid repeating the extractivist patterns of the fossil fuel era.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) have signed a five-year framework agreement to collaborate on global change research and scientific diplomacy. The agreement focuses on activities at the interface of science and policy, including administrative support, technical assistance, and capacity building. Specific projects will be detailed in subsequent complementary acts, which will define budgets, human resources, and intellectual property rights. The agreement does not create immediate financial obligations for either party.

The IAI Strategic Plan 2024–2030 focuses on three strategic themes: meeting the needs of Parties to address global environmental change, developing science for the sustainability of the Americas, and ensuring the sustainability of the IAI. These themes are implemented through 10 strategic goals, including the promotion of transdisciplinary research on biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and water-food-energy nexuses, as well as strengthening science-policy interfaces and regional funding networks.

The report emphasizes the critical role of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal protection. It argues that these 'blue carbon' ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and calls for a comprehensive framework involving scientific diplomacy, transboundary cooperation, and community engagement. The document provides specific policy recommendations across four dimensions: ecology, ecosystem services, spatial governance, and community action, while highlighting the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica as case studies for sustainable management.