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The IAI Directorate reported progress in science and capacity building between 2021 and 2022, highlighting the expansion of the STeP Fellowship program to 45 fellows across 10 countries and the launch of the IAI Virtual Campus. Key scientific efforts included contributions to the IPCC 6th Assessment Report and the development of climate-health tools for the Caribbean. The Directorate also focused on science diplomacy, establishing the IAI Center for Science Diplomacy and partnering with the Belmont Forum to fund transdisciplinary research. Efforts to increase inclusivity led to the drafting of a Gender, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Policy and the provision of 100 scholarships for students from Latin America and the Caribbean to attend the Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress 2022.

The document examines the relationship between tropical deforestation and water use in agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically those imported into the EU. It highlights that while high-risk deforestation commodities often rely on precipitation (green water), other commodities cause significant water scarcity through irrigation (blue water). The authors warn that focusing solely on deforestation may shift environmental burdens to water-scarce regions and identify critical data gaps regarding water use for beef and wood products.

The paper examines the dissonance between quality of life and environmental sustainability, highlighting how developed economies' high-consumption lifestyles drive global ecological overshoot. It critiques the current capitalistic model that equates purchasing power with freedom and argues that developing nations are unfairly burdened by historical emissions and resource depletion. To address this, the authors propose replacing GDP with a 'Green GDP' that integrates ESG norms and establishing a 'Conference of Parties on Utilization of Resources' (CoP-UR) to manage a global resource budget and hold polluting nations accountable.

The Council on Strategic Risks warns that a lack of dedicated funding in a March 2022 government spending package threatens U.S. domestic health and international vaccine distribution. The author asserts that without additional funds, the U.S. will face depleted monoclonal antibody supplies, reduced testing capacity, and a diminished ability to support the USAID Global VAX program. Furthermore, the document highlights that low vaccination rates in low-income countries (13%) increase the risk of new variants and allow geopolitical rivals like China to strengthen ties with developing nations through vaccine diplomacy.

The report outlines critical research needs across natural sciences, social sciences, and legal analysis to support climate litigation. Key gaps include the need for localized attribution science, investigations into corporate disinformation and internal knowledge (including non-fossil fuel industries), and the quantification of economic damages. It also emphasizes the necessity of 'translational work' to bridge the communication gap between scientists, legal practitioners, and judges, particularly regarding legally relevant timeframes and standards of evidence.

The document details discussions within the TRAN committee on two key legislative files: the AFIR and RED II. For AFIR, members debated the inadequacy of previous charging station targets, the need for higher power outputs, and the role of LNG in heavy-duty transport. Regarding RED II, the committee discussed increasing the renewable energy share to 40% by 2030, the controversial inclusion of low-carbon fuels, and the prioritization of electrification for road transport versus synthetic fuels for aviation and maritime sectors.

The author contends that digital conglomerates have hijacked public spaces, replacing organic community meaning-making with a profit-driven consumerist ethic. This corporate dominance leads to the marginalization and potential physical endangerment of excluded groups, such as indigenous peoples in the Amazon and the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. The text calls for civil society and the ecumenical movement to defend the integrity of public communication spaces to uphold social justice and the common good.

The report presents survey data from 108,946 Facebook users worldwide, revealing high global levels of worry and belief that climate change is happening, though perceptions of its causes and the responsibility for action vary significantly by region. While there is widespread support for renewable energy and the belief that climate action will not harm economic growth, willingness to engage in organized climate activism remains low in most regions, with a notable exception in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The report synthesizes findings from a 2021 scoping workshop involving over 150 experts to identify barriers and opportunities for integrating climate, environment, and health (CEH) data and policy in Latin America and the Caribbean. Key obstacles include a lack of standardized, real-time data and a disconnect between academic research and policy application. The document advocates for a transdisciplinary 'community of practice' and identifies researchers, academics, and civil society as core partners for future collaborative research actions.

The document highlights that 13% of all food production is lost due to a lack of cold chains, amounting to 526 million tonnes annually. This deficiency disproportionately affects low-income countries, with Asia holding the highest share of food loss at 48%. The report argues that expanding sustainable cooling can reduce food losses by 55% and cold chain emissions by 55%, while improving incomes for smallholder farmers. It identifies 54 high-impact countries, noting that while China and India have the highest volumes of loss, several African nations exhibit the highest energy inefficiency in food production. Proposed solutions include National Cooling Action Plans, Cooling as a Service (CaaS) models, and Community Cooling Hubs.

The report identifies the fossil fuel industry as the most litigious sector in the ISDS system, accounting for nearly 20% of all known cases. It highlights a significant lack of transparency, with 54% of concluded cases remaining confidential. Findings show that investors frequently win on the merits (72% of disclosed cases) and receive substantially higher awards than non-fossil fuel investors, averaging over USD 600 million. The analysis emphasizes the role of the Energy Charter Treaty (ECT) and contract-based arbitrations, particularly in low-income countries. The report concludes that the ISDS system can create a 'regulatory chill,' deterring states from implementing urgent climate policies and phasing out fossil fuels to meet Paris Agreement objectives.

The author examines the intersection of communication rights, human rights, and climate justice, arguing that 'communication poverty' prevents vulnerable populations from influencing climate policy. The text details how climate change disproportionately affects the Global South and racialized communities, often exacerbating existing systemic inequalities. It explores various frameworks of climate justice—including historical, per capita, and rights-based approaches—and highlights the role of the grassroots climate justice movement in challenging elite, market-based solutions. The document emphasizes that for Indigenous and marginalized groups to achieve 'parity of participation,' they must have access to media platforms and the ability to develop their own narratives to challenge dominant stereotypes and influence global decision-making processes.

The report outlines findings from several IAI Small Grants Programme projects. Key highlights include the loss of carbon retention in the Amazon due to deforestation, the identification of a complex 'water crisis' in border regions of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay, and the development of predictive models for the Paraná River basin to balance hydroelectric energy needs with ecosystem services. It also emphasizes the role of co-production of knowledge and participatory governance in enhancing community adaptation to global environmental change across countries including Chile, Colombia, and Uruguay.

The document emphasizes the need for communication professionals to prioritize the safety and dignity of Indigenous peoples, particularly in the Americas. It warns against 'parachute journalism' and the risks associated with public disclosure, advocating for constant consultation, respect for traditional authorities, and the avoidance of colonialist or discriminatory imagery.

The document outlines the need for a shift from mere representation to a lasting and impactful 'Indigenous media presence' to avoid stereotypes and sensationalism. It introduces eight principles developed through research with Indigenous leaders, media agents, and NGOs across 10 countries in Central and South America, aiming to support Indigenous self-determination and sustainable climate solutions.

The document outlines the necessity of prioritizing the safety and well-being of Indigenous peoples when producing media content. It warns against 'parachute journalism' and emphasizes the need for constant communication with communities to avoid exposing them to risks through photography, recordings, or public disclosures. The guide advocates for respecting traditional authorities, recognizing legal land titles (Territories), and avoiding colonialist imagery that perpetuates discrimination.

The report demonstrates that deforestation in the Amazon, specifically within the Xingu River Basin, significantly reduces rainfall in Mato Grosso. A counterfactual scenario where all Xingu Indigenous Territories are deforested predicts an average annual precipitation decrease of 7%, with more severe reductions during the dry season. These changes threaten agricultural productivity, urban water supplies, and hydroelectric power generation, with the center and north of the state being most vulnerable.

This report by CPI/PUC-Rio uses an atmospheric transport model to demonstrate that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest reduces rainfall in Mato Grosso. A counterfactual analysis of the total deforestation of indigenous territories in the Xingu River Basin suggests a 7% reduction in average annual precipitation, with more severe impacts during the dry season. The study highlights the critical role of protected forest areas in sustaining agricultural productivity, hydroelectric power generation, and urban water supplies.

The document explores the intersection of voluntary sustainability standards (VSSs) and international trade policy to combat deforestation. It details the design, implementation, and assurance mechanisms of VSSs for commodities like cocoa, palm oil, soy, and timber, noting that while they have demonstrated positive impacts, results are often context-specific. The brief categorizes forest-related provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs) into declarative clauses, cooperation provisions, and binding commitments, highlighting a shift from purely promotional references to mandatory requirements. A key example is the EFTA-Indonesia CEPA, which links preferential tariffs to sustainability certifications. The document also discusses the EU's FLEGT regulation and the UK's proposed due diligence laws as mandatory alternatives or complements to VSSs, concluding that a multi-pronged approach combining regulation and VSSs is necessary to address global deforestation.

The report examines the systemic biases, colonial legacies, and representational risks associated with depicting Indigenous peoples and forests in the context of climate change. It proposes a shift toward 'Indigenous Media Presence,' characterised by self-presentation, 'deep ethics' rooted in territory, and the recognition of Indigenous science and spirituality. The document highlights the risks of 'scenification,' 'audio-visual extractivism,' and the invisibility of Afro-descendant forest communities, while showcasing the work of Indigenous photographers and independent media as tools for resistance and planetary healing.