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This executive summary adapts the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report for Latin American decision-makers. It details observed warming (0.7–1°C since the 1970s) and shifting rainfall patterns that threaten water availability and food production. The report emphasizes that further warming is inevitable and highlights the need for integrated adaptation and mitigation strategies, such as sustainable urban planning and payment for ecosystem services. It concludes that international cooperation and financial support from developed countries are critical for the region to build resilience and pursue low-carbon development.

The document outlines the observed and projected climate impacts in Latin America, emphasizing the need for integrated adaptation and low-carbon development to protect economic growth and human security.

The report documents a pattern of violence and judicial harassment against land and environmental rights defenders in 2013. It argues that these individuals are particularly vulnerable as global competition for land and resources increases, often facing threats from government forces and corporations. The document provides specific case studies from Europe, the Americas, Africa, and Asia, detailing arrests, murders, and forced evictions linked to opposition against extractive industries, mega-projects, and agribusiness.

The research examines the diffusion of the Direct Planting System (DPS) in Brazil, a no-till farming method that increases productivity and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Despite its benefits and lack of significant upfront costs, adoption remained low at approximately 10% as of 2006. The authors argue that the primary barrier is the need for site-specific knowledge to adapt the system to different soil types. Using a theoretical model and empirical data from 1,708 municipalities, the study finds that higher soil heterogeneity negatively impacts adoption rates, particularly at intermediate levels of adoption (between 18% and 50%). The study also concludes that formal learning channels, such as cooperatives and diffusion centers (CATs), complement social learning by increasing adoption to levels where the impact of soil heterogeneity becomes more pronounced.

The document is a participant list for the 21st Conference of the Parts, held June 12-13, 2013, in Montevideo, Uruguay. It details representatives from various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and the USA, as well as observers and staff from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Ministry of Housing, Territorial Planning and Environment (MVOTMA/DINAMA).

The project examines how land use decisions, such as choosing between pastures and agricultural crops, affect water table depth (WTD) and create interdependencies among neighboring farmers in the Argentine Pampas. Initial findings indicate that pastures lead to deeper groundwater levels compared to crops like soybean, wheat, and maize, and that farmers are generally willing to coordinate actions to manage groundwater as a common good.

National development banks (NDBs) are positioned as critical intermediaries to bridge the climate finance gap by leveraging public funds to attract private capital. Due to their local market knowledge and development mandates, NDBs can address both demand-side barriers (pre-investment) and supply-side risks (investment phase). In the LAC region, NDBs possess significant assets and capital, and many are already utilizing a variety of instruments—including Tier 1 and Tier 2 loans, guarantees, and equity—to promote low-carbon development. The report argues that NDBs can achieve leverage factors equal to or greater than multilateral development banks (MDBs) because of their proximity to local financial institutions and ability to manage country-specific risks.

The 2050 Criteria identifies primary environmental and social risks for ten major commodity sectors—including aquaculture, beef, cotton, dairy, palm oil, soy, sugar, timber, wild-caught seafood, and bioenergy—and establishes Key Performance Criteria (KPC) to help banks and investors identify responsible practices. The document argues that the global economy is consuming natural resources faster than they can be replenished, creating systemic risks for the financial sector. It promotes the use of credible third-party certifications, such as the RSPO for palm oil and FSC for forestry, as proxies for business performance and risk management. The report also highlights investment opportunities in sustainable technologies, such as methane capture systems in palm oil and dairy sectors, and the rehabilitation of degraded lands to meet growing global demand without further deforestation.

The document condemns the Peruvian government for an 'alarmante escalada de represión' involving firearms and helicopters against environmental protesters. It highlights casualties in El Espinar, Bambamarca, and Celedín, and denounces the arbitrary detention of community leader Marco Arana. The statement specifically calls on the multinational company Newmont to address the violence surrounding the Conga mining project, which threatens regional water sources.

Friends of the Earth International condemns the Peruvian government for using disproportionate force, including firearms from helicopters, against environmental protesters. The statement highlights deaths and injuries in El Espinar, Bambamarca, and Celedín, and denounces the arbitrary detention of Father Marco Arana. It calls for an end to the repression and demands a statement from the multinational company Newmont regarding the violence associated with the Conga project.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) managed the review and selection of CRN3 proposals from June 2011 to June 2012. Out of 88 pre-proposals, 26 full proposals were reviewed, and 8 were selected for funding. These 8 projects involve 117 investigators from 75 institutions across 16 countries. The SAC emphasized the need for multi-country teams, capacity building, and the integration of human dimensions and social sciences into climate research.

The report examines foreign investment in agriculture across MERCOSUR, identifying three primary models: state-level cooperation agreements, direct private land purchases, and foreign direct investment in production via contract farming. It highlights a general lack of reliable data, though estimates suggest foreign ownership varies significantly, from 1.7% of arable land in Brazil to 19.4% of national territory in Paraguay. While Brazil and Argentina have implemented laws to restrict foreign land ownership, Uruguay is debating similar measures, and Paraguay has seen little public discussion on restrictions despite high foreign ownership. The document recommends the establishment of national land registries and clear definitions of 'foreign stakeholders' to better manage and monitor these investments.

The report analyzes foreign investment in the agricultural sectors of MERCOSUR countries, identifying three primary models: state-to-state cooperation agreements, direct private land purchases, and foreign direct investment in production via contract farming. It highlights a general lack of robust data across the region, though it notes that foreigners own approximately 1.7% of Brazil's arable land and an estimated 3.4% of Argentina's. Paraguay shows the highest level of foreign ownership at 19.4% of its national territory, largely held by Brazilians. The document details the legislative shift toward restricting foreign land ownership in Argentina and Brazil, while noting that Uruguay is debating similar measures and Paraguay lacks significant public debate or effective restrictions. It concludes that while foreign investment can bring technology, it often risks displacing local producers and threatening food security if not properly regulated through clear definitions of foreign ownership and national land registries.

The July 2012 issue of Investment Treaty News Quarterly explores the tension between investor protections and the regulatory autonomy of states. Key discussions include the use of deferential standards of review to enhance the legitimacy of investor-state arbitration and the risks associated with unilateral offers to arbitrate in national investment codes. The document also analyzes how international investment agreements can clash with the provision of public services and the increasing trend of investors challenging renewable energy feed-in tariffs (FiTs) and domestic content requirements. Additionally, it reviews the European Commission's draft text for investor-state dispute settlement in EU agreements and provides summaries of recent arbitral awards involving countries such as Slovakia, Cuba, Paraguay, Ecuador, and Turkey.

This document is a list of participants for the 34th Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, which took place on June 29, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia, USA.

The document is a participant list for the IAI 20th Conference of the Parties and associated Science-Policy Dialogue held on June 27-29, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. It lists representatives from various governments, academic institutions, and international organizations.

The IAI Executive Council met on June 26, 2012, to address operational budgets, scientific research grants, and governance restructuring. Key outcomes include the recommendation of a tripartite headquarters model distributed across Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina, and the approval of eight research projects under the third round of the Collaborative Research Network (CRN3) program. The Council also reviewed financial reports for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, noting a total of US$1.3 million in pending member contributions.

The IAI Executive Council is managing the transition to a tripartite hosting arrangement for its Directorate, involving Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay. While a distributed structure has been proposed—with the Directorate in Montevideo, science development in São José dos Campos, and science-policy liaison in Buenos Aires—the parties have not yet reached a consensus on the detailed integrated proposal. Additionally, the report notes the resignation of EC Chair Dr. Paul Filmer and the appointment of Dr. Carlos Ereño as acting chair.

The document details the efforts of the IAI Executive Council and an ad hoc commission to organize the hosting of the IAI Executive Directorate. Following interest from Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, a tripartite proposal was developed to distribute functions across these three countries. However, the report notes that consensus was not reached among the parties, resulting in two different options to be resolved by the Conference of the Parties (CoP-20).

The report details the financial status of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. While 99.5% of approved contributions for the year were received by April 30, 2012, the institute faces significant arrears totaling US$1.3 million, with Mexico and Venezuela cited as major debtors. Operational expenses through February 2012 were 11% below budget, though salary costs exceeded projections by 6.4%. Cash reserves cover 3.8 months of operations, increasing to 9.2 months if US committed funds are included. Administratively, the report notes instability regarding the contracting of four staff members via INPE.