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This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate during the 2020-2021 intersessional period. It outlines progress in science, capacity building, and science-policy interfaces, specifically highlighting the adaptation of programs to the COVID-19 pandemic and the expansion of transdisciplinary research and strategic partnerships across the Americas.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Directorate's summary report for the 2020-2021 intersessional period details progress in scientific research, capacity building, and science-policy interfaces despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key achievements include the launch of the Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) fellowship program, the establishment of new strategic partnerships with entities like the Wellcome Trust and Mitacs Canada, and the implementation of transdisciplinary projects on climate-driven infectious diseases in the Caribbean.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative and UN-OHRLLS, provides policymakers in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) with best practices to increase the resilience of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems against extreme wind events. Based on field evaluations of failures and successes following hurricanes in the Caribbean and Pacific, the document outlines technical specifications for ground-mount and rooftop systems and emphasizes the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure infrastructure survives Category 5 storms.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that Caribbean nations can use COVID-19 recovery stimulus to accelerate the transition to distributed energy resources (DERs). By focusing on solar PV, wind, electric vehicles (EVs), and energy efficiency, islands can create immediate jobs to offset pandemic losses while enhancing long-term resilience against climate-related shocks and diversifying economies heavily dependent on tourism.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the State University of New York Upstate Medical University are collaborating on the health component of the Caribbean regional track of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR), a project running from March 25 to December 17, 2020.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the State University of Medicine are collaborating on the health component of the Caribbean Regional Pathway of the Climate Resilience Pilot Programme (PPRC), a project funded by the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF) to integrate climate risk and resilience into development planning for highly vulnerable countries.

The Global Resilience Partnership's 'Call for Action on Adaptation and Resilience' is a collaborative effort led by Egypt and the United Kingdom, supported by a coalition of partners and the UNDP, to advance climate adaptation and resilience through specific global initiatives.

The 'Building a Resilient Future Outcome Document' records the proceedings of a one-day event held on 22 September 2019 in New York City, convened by the Global Resilience Partnership. The event brought together over 500 practitioners to identify actions and partnerships to accelerate climate adaptation and resilience, specifically responding to the UN Climate Action Summit's Call for Action. The document outlines high-level messages, specific commitments from seven thematic action sessions, and a roadmap for building a global movement to protect vulnerable communities from climate-related shocks.

This fact sheet from the Green Economy Coalition outlines the conceptualization and implementation of green and blue economy frameworks in the Caribbean, highlighting the roles of multi-stakeholder groups, intergovernmental organizations, and specific sectoral efforts in tourism and renewable energy.

This briefing describes two Collaborative Research Actions (CRAs) led by the French National Research Agency (ANR) within the Belmont Forum: one focused on food systems and climate change, and another on the sustainability of soils and groundwater.

This report analyzes options for operationalising the requirement under Article 6.4(d) of the Paris Agreement to deliver an overall mitigation in global emissions, specifically providing technical support to Saint Lucia for international negotiations.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the use of 'security for costs' in investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS), where tribunals require investors to deposit funds to cover a state's potential legal costs. The document analyzes the high financial burden on taxpayers, the challenges states face in obtaining such orders due to high judicial thresholds, and the impact of third-party funding. It concludes by recommending stronger, more explicit treaty language to ensure states can recover costs and prevent 'arbitral hit and run' scenarios.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the use of 'security for costs' (cautionnement pour frais) in Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). It analyzes why states seek these deposits to protect taxpayers from high defense costs and speculative claims, the legal obstacles they face due to vague arbitration rules, and the current restrictive jurisprudence of tribunals. The document concludes by recommending that states integrate specific, robust security for costs provisions into their investment treaties to ensure a more equitable balance between investors and states.

This briefing describes the importance of a strategic communications approach in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process, specifically focusing on how the Government of Saint Lucia utilizes these strategies to engage stakeholders and citizens.

The report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and strategies to strengthen the science-policy interface. It focuses on providing scientific information to governments for policy-making, enhancing cooperation with multilateral environmental agreements, and increasing the visibility of the IAI among member and non-member states in the Americas.

The Eastern Caribbean Green Economy Barometer 2018 is a policy briefing that assesses the progress of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in transitioning to an inclusive green economy. It evaluates the region across five themes: measurement and governance, sustainable finance, green and inclusive sectors, social fairness, and economics for nature. The report concludes that the overall transition is 'below average,' characterized by narrow definitions of green economy that often exclude equity and inclusion, a lack of integrated national policies, and a disjointed financial landscape.

The Santa Cruz Declaration on Local Green Enterprises is a 2017 joint statement by the Green Economy Coalition emphasizing the critical role of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in driving the transition to inclusive, green, and resilient economies.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute analyses international public climate finance flows to Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) between 2010 and 2015. Using OECD Creditor Reporting System (CRS) data, the study examines the volume, sources, sectoral distribution, and delivery mechanisms of funds primarily targeting climate change, highlighting significant gaps between commitments and actual disbursements.

The report examines the role of connected and isolated microgrids in the global energy transition. It highlights how falling costs of renewable energy enable these systems to replace diesel-based generation, particularly in island nations like Saint Lucia. While facing challenges in grid stability and the balance of energy sources, microgrids offer a pathway to increased energy independence and reduced emissions.

This policy brief argues for urgent climate resilience investment in the Caribbean, specifically within the agriculture and tourism sectors, to protect economic growth and poverty alleviation efforts from increasing climate threats.