Search Climate Insights Directory

The report challenges the narrative that genetically modified (GM) crops are a solution to global hunger and climate change, asserting that they primarily benefit biotechnology corporations. It argues that GM crops have not increased yields, have led to an increase in pesticide use due to the emergence of 'super-weeds,' and are often used for animal feed and biofuels rather than human consumption. The document highlights the concentration of market power in companies like Monsanto and describes the negative socio-environmental impacts in the Southern Cone of South America, including deforestation and the displacement of indigenous communities. It concludes that agroecology offers a more sustainable and effective alternative for climate adaptation and food sovereignty.

The report challenges the claims of the biotechnology industry, specifically the ISAAA, regarding the success and benefits of GM crops. It argues that GM plants are primarily used for animal feed and biofuels rather than human nutrition and that they lead to increased pesticide use, soil degradation, and the displacement of indigenous peoples. The document specifically critiques the 'climate scam'—the claim that GM crops can mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration or drought resistance—and proposes agroecology as a sustainable alternative.

The document is a participant directory for the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP) held in Brasília, Brazil, on June 9-10, 2010. It lists representatives from various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, Paraguay, and Venezuela, as well as observers from the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) and staff from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) planned a series of training institutes and science programs between July 2010 and June 2011, focusing on seasonal climate predictions, urban responses to climate change, and biodiversity in the Andes. Key initiatives included a MacArthur Foundation project to assess research and institutional needs for Andean biodiversity and a research internship program with IAI-INPE/CPTEC.

The IAI's annual plan for 2010-2011 focuses on four training institutes, scientific synthesis meetings, and the implementation of the MacArthur Project concerning Andean biodiversity. Key activities include training on seasonal climate predictions in Argentina, city responses to climate change in Chile, and land-use changes in Paraguay. The scientific program includes hydrology and climate modeling, as well as a new proposal to the MacArthur Foundation regarding climate impacts on tropical Andean biodiversity. The plan also details a project to assess institutional and research needs in Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia to address climate effects on biodiversity.

The IAI Directorate Report details a period of significant scientific productivity contrasted with a severe core funding crisis caused by member country non-payments. While the institute successfully advanced research on ecosystem boundaries, urban emissions, and Andean biodiversity, it faced operational disruptions, including temporary salary halts and the cancellation of travel for international climate negotiations. The report emphasizes the transition of the IAI from a funding agency to an active participant in science-policy dialogue and highlights the need for sustainable financial commitments from member states.

The project introduced soybean producers in eastern Paraguay and southern Brazil to seasonal climate forecasts and a crop growth model to evaluate adaptive management options, such as varying planting dates and soybean varieties, under different El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) scenarios. To ensure the delivery of trustable, science-based information, the project collaborated with local cooperatives, three of which funded weather stations. The resulting decision support tools for yield and climate risks were adapted for Paraguay and planned for Rio Grande do Sul, utilizing a probabilistic approach to climate forecasts and a web-based information system.

The project assesses the effects of land use and cover changes on the La Plata Basin's hydroclimate, specifically focusing on the intensity and length of floods and droughts, as well as soil moisture, infiltration, and runoff. Using 1980-2005 datasets and a Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) modeling system, the research tests various land cover scenarios and introduces Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) to replace time-fixed land cover types in regional models.

The United States has increasingly recognized Brazil as a significant regional and global power due to its economic growth, leadership in biofuels, and role in multilateral forums like the G20. While there is mutual interest in cooperating on climate change, energy, and global financial stability, the document argues that a 'special relationship' is hindered by divergent priorities in security, trade disputes over agricultural subsidies and industrial protection, and a lack of dedicated Brazil expertise within the US policy community.

The project investigates the trade-offs between agricultural expansion and ecosystem services in the Rio de la Plata Basin, finding that crop expansion has significantly reduced soil carbon and that certain afforestation efforts have negatively impacted regional hydrology and water yield.

The report details progress in modeling land-atmosphere interactions in the La Plata Basin, specifically testing the use of Ecosystem Functional Types (EFTs) to better represent interannual vegetation variability. It describes the development of a South American Land Data Assimilation System (SALDAS) and the evaluation of various atmospheric reanalyses for precipitation accuracy. Additionally, the document covers efforts to estimate evapotranspiration using MODIS data, the potential remote effects of Amazonian deforestation on the basin, and the implementation of an agricultural decision support system in Paraguay.

The report argues that while South America possesses vast energy resources, national regulations and a lack of multilateral frameworks prevent countries from achieving adequate energy security. It highlights that the region is well-positioned for a transition to a low-carbon economy but is hindered by a shift from an 'institutions-market' approach to an 'empire-regions' approach, where energy is used as a geopolitical tool. The author proposes the creation of a Multilateral Energy Security Reserve (RMSE) treaty to provide legal and pricing mechanisms for accessing regional reserves during supply crises. Brazil is identified as a key coordinator for this process due to its market size, oil resources, and leadership in renewables. Major obstacles to integration include the coordination of hydropower output, environmental licensing in the Amazon, and a legal deficit affecting private investment.

The document examines how trade liberalization in Latin America has affected men and women differently, focusing on the 'feminization' of precarious jobs in non-traditional agro-exports and the urban labour market. It highlights a mismatch between available skills and market demand, leading to higher unemployment and underemployment for women. While some women gained bargaining power through new income sources, the overall impact on gender equity remains inconclusive due to data gaps and the overlapping effects of broader macroeconomic reforms.

Since 2000, Brazil has leveraged sustained economic growth and reduced social inequality to expand its global political influence and diplomatic presence. While it has become an undisputed regional power in South America through the creation of institutions like Mercosur and mediation of regional conflicts, the document argues that Brazil remains a "reluctant emerging power." Its global ambitions are tempered by internal social inequalities, a public wary of the costs of assertive foreign policy, and a strategic preference for "partial adaptation" over revolutionary change to the global order. The author suggests that for Brazil to sustain its emergence, it must move beyond risk-averse diplomacy and define a clear vision for global governance.

CIEL advocates for an international treaty on copyright exceptions and limitations, specifically to benefit the disabled, libraries, and education. The organization supports the World Blind Union's proposed treaty to improve cross-border access for the visually impaired and promotes open-source standards, such as the DAISY Standard, to accelerate innovation. CIEL criticizes the current Secretariat survey for lacking empirical depth and argues that discussions on a new internet broadcasting agreement are premature due to the significant digital divide between industrialized and developing countries.

The document is a participant list for the 16th IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP) Meeting, which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 19-20, 2009. It identifies representatives from member countries, observers, lecturers, and IAI staff.

This document is a list of participants for the 27th Executive Council (EC) Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), which took place in Bogotá, Colombia, on May 18, 2009.

The IAI Directorate reports progress on the CRN II and SGP-HD programs, highlighting the leveraging of US$ 5.5 million in funding and the production of 108 peer-reviewed publications. Key achievements include the establishment of a phenology monitoring network in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and the delivery of training institutes on climate adaptation and remote sensing. The report also details the 'Assessment of research and institutional needs to cope with the effects of Climate Change on Andean Biodiversity' project and various international collaborations to integrate climate science into policy.

The IAI Executive Directorate reports on the progress of the CRN II and SGP-HD programs, highlighting the creation of a phenology monitoring network in Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico, and the integration of stakeholders in climate research. It details capacity-building workshops on climate adaptation and remote sensing, as well as specific regional initiatives in the Andes and the Plata Basin. The report also notes significant academic achievements, including Nobel Peace Prize recognition for several IAI-affiliated authors of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report.

The IAI report for the period ending March 31, 2009, shows that 81% of approved contributions for the 2008/2009 fiscal year had been received. Total expenditures for the nine months ending March 2009 were US$739,671, which is 15.2% below the budgeted amount. The institute's cash balance decreased by 35.1% compared to March 2008, with current operating reserves covering two months of operations. Administrative updates include the completion of CRN II program audits, a transition from Banco de Brasil to Citibank for improved security, and staffing changes to reduce costs by approximately US$35,000 per year.