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This briefing document, prepared by the United States of America as President of the Executive Council, outlines the process for electing members to the Executive Council of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) for the 2018-2020 term. It includes the formal recommendation for the 26th Conference of the Parties (CoP) to elect nine members and provides the full Rules of Procedure for the Executive Council.

This report, prepared by the United States of America as Chair of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), outlines the activities of the EC during the intersessional period leading up to its 45th meeting in June 2018. It details the EC's oversight of various decisions from the 25th Conference of the Parties (CoP-25), including efforts to improve data transparency, document accessibility, communication strategies, and long-term funding sustainability.

This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details capacity-building activities conducted between the 25th and 26th Conferences of the Parties (2017-2018). It highlights the implementation of inter- and transdisciplinary training, science-policy integration, and the use of seed grants to foster regional scientific cooperation and communication.

As of 31 January 2018, the Green Climate Fund (GCF) had accredited 59 entities, with a pipeline of 198 entities having created accounts on the Online Accreditation System. The report highlights a strategic shift toward prioritizing direct access entities, which now constitute a larger share of those completing the accreditation process. It also details the ongoing support provided to direct access entities through readiness programs and gap assessments, and tracks the progress of accredited entities in fulfilling specific fiduciary, environmental, social, and gender conditions. Additionally, the document notes a temporary lack of quorum in the Accreditation Panel (AP), which delayed new accreditation recommendations for the nineteenth Board meeting.

The assessment finds that 'green' finance aligned with forest emission reduction is significantly outweighed by 'grey' finance that potentially drives deforestation. While some middle-income countries invest more domestically in REDD+ than they receive internationally, overall international public finance for forestry remains insufficient. Private sector investment in 'business as usual' farming and forestry is estimated at USD 168 billion annually, and while some financial institutions are adopting deforestation risk policies, transparency and mandatory enforcement remain low. The report suggests that blended finance and public sector tools are necessary to shift private capital toward sustainable land use.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) provides technical tools and research in Colombia to bridge science and policy across water management, energy transition, and sustainable sanitation. Key efforts include the use of WEAP for water resource planning, LEAP for low-emission energy modeling, and TRASE for mapping deforestation in agricultural supply chains. SEI also investigates the socio-economic transition away from thermal coal in the César and La Guajira departments and supports the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The report identifies a growing "restoration economy" where businesses generate financial returns by improving the ecological function of degraded landscapes. It categorizes these opportunities into four main investment themes: technology, consumer products, project management, and commercial forestry. Through case studies of 14 companies across eight countries, the authors illustrate how various models—from drone-based reforestation and climate-smart credit for smallholders to sustainable timber and bamboo plantations—can scale. The document highlights that while significant market opportunities exist due to government pledges and rising resource demand, investors face hurdles such as high transaction costs, low liquidity, and insecure land tenure in developing regions.

The GCF Board's 18th meeting in Cairo focused on operationalizing the fund's implementation phase. Key outcomes include the approval of multiple funding proposals across various regions, the accreditation of five new entities, and the adoption of a Simplified Approval Process (SAP) pilot for small-scale activities. The Board also approved a new Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Policy and a revised administrative budget and staffing target of 250 employees for 2018. However, consensus was not reached on a risk management framework or the selection process for a Permanent Trustee.

Twenty-three major retailers and consumer goods companies, including Tesco and McDonald's, have called on soy and cattle agribusinesses to stop deforestation in Latin America, particularly in Brazil's Cerrado. Mighty Earth argues that with 500 million acres of degraded land available, native ecosystem destruction is unnecessary. The organization urges companies like Cargill and Bunge to expand their Amazon deforestation efforts to other regions and proposes a land-use change monitoring system for soy-growing areas costing between $750,000 and $1,000,000 to establish.

The document provides a comprehensive historical record of the IAI's governance, detailing the outcomes of its Conferences of the Parties (CoP) from 1997 to 2017. Key recurring activities include the election of the Executive Council (CE), the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), as well as the approval of annual operating budgets and country contributions. The records track the evolution of the institute's administrative framework, including the establishment of a Tripartite Headquarters structure, the development of open data and science policies, and the implementation of strategic plans for global change research. It also documents the institute's efforts to enhance science communication, manage funding through mechanisms like the Belmont Forum, and maintain diplomatic relations with member states across the Americas.

The IAI Science Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) report outlines strategic recommendations to improve the visibility, engagement, and financing of science-policy linkages. It details a December 2016 workshop in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where researchers and decision-makers collaborated on five thematic areas: health and diseases, land use and hydrology, weather forecasting and early warning, coastal and marine management, and urban monitoring. The report advocates for increased IAI Directorate capacity, specifically in outreach and fundraising, and suggests strengthening participation in international conventions and private sector engagement to enhance the application of scientific data in regional governance.

The report outlines the SPAC's efforts to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and decision-making in the Americas. It provides strategic recommendations for the IAI regarding visibility, policy engagement, and financing, while detailing the outcomes of a multi-sectoral workshop in Argentina that integrated scientific research on health, coasts, land use, weather forecasting, and urban environments into local governance.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reported a strengthened financial position as of April 30, 2017, with cash balances 179.8% higher than the previous year. While total revenues reached US$1,424,975, the institute faces ongoing challenges with unpaid contributions from some member countries, totaling US$1.31 million. Budget performance through February 2017 showed expenses 13.1% lower than the budget, though salaries were higher than expected. Administratively, the IAI implemented new accounting software and continues to work toward the full implementation of Tripartite Agreements in Argentina and Brazil.

The report argues that Burger King lacks transparency and effective policies to prevent deforestation in its supply chain, contrasting it with competitors like McDonald's. Through field investigations and satellite mapping, the authors link Burger King's suppliers—specifically soy traders Cargill and Bunge—to the destruction of the Brazilian Cerrado and Bolivian lowland forests. The document highlights the resulting loss of biodiversity, carbon emissions, and violence against indigenous peoples, while advocating for the expansion of the Brazilian Amazon Soy Moratorium to other Latin American ecosystems.

The document outlines the challenges and best practices for implementing the 2030 Agenda in Latin America, emphasizing the need for cross-sectoral institutional structures, subnational engagement, and improved data disaggregation. It highlights the vulnerability of SDG implementation to political cycles and the difficulty of aligning the 2030 Agenda with the Paris Agreement. Key recommendations include incorporating medium-term goals to bridge government cycles and mobilizing private sector resources to fill funding gaps caused by regional recessions.

The document outlines the challenges and best practices for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Latin America, focusing on institutional harmonization, inter-sectoral cooperation, local ownership, and financing. It highlights the risk of political instability affecting long-term goals and the need for better data disaggregation and multi-stakeholder dialogue to move beyond central government control.

The 2016 assessment of NYDF Goal 2 reveals a growing number of corporate commitments to deforestation-free supply chains, with 415 companies making 701 pledges. However, progress is uneven across commodities; palm oil and wood products have the highest commitment rates, while cattle—the largest driver of deforestation—has the lowest. Implementation remains a challenge, as few companies have time-bound actionable plans or full traceability to the production level. While companies in deforestation hotspots (Brazil, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Paraguay) are more advanced in operationalizing pledges, overall global impact on forest loss cannot yet be measured due to data gaps. The report emphasizes that private sector efforts require stronger support from financial institutions and improved forest governance from national governments to be effective.

The Minister of Planning for Economic and Social Development of Paraguay has nominated the Avina Foundation for accreditation to the Green Climate Fund, citing the foundation's history of promoting sustainable development and climate change strategies in Latin America and its collaboration with the Paraguayan government on the National Development Plan and the Social Progress Index.

The statement by Friends of the Earth Latin America and Caribbean (ATALC) denounces the installation of Michel Temer's government in Brazil as a coup d'état. It argues that this political shift serves elite and corporate interests, leading to the dismantling of social policies and the destruction of environmental protections, including the annulment of the environmental licensing system and the opening of petrol reserves to transnational capital.

ATALC condemns the installation of Michel Temer's government in Brazil, characterizing it as a coup that threatens democratic stability in Latin America. The organization warns that this political shift leads to the dismantling of social policies and the implementation of neoliberal economic measures, including the privatization of common goods and the opening of oil reserves to transnational capital.