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The document analyzes the rise of investor-state arbitration under Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), noting a significant increase in cases compared to NAFTA's Chapter 11. Using ICSID data, it highlights pending cases that challenge government emergency measures in Argentina, tax policies in Burundi, and environmental regulations in Mexico and Peru. It also examines disputes over water privatization in Bolivia and Argentina, and the risks of using opaque, ad-hoc arbitration rules (like UNCITRAL) which can lead to conflicting rulings and a lack of public transparency, potentially undermining the legitimacy of the process and hindering the ability of developing nations to manage foreign investment.

The Basel Action Network and a coalition of environmental NGOs oppose the U.S. State Department's plan to selectively ratify the 1989 Basel Convention while refusing the 1995 Ban Amendment. The authors argue that the original convention is inadequate and that the Ban Amendment is essential to end 'toxic colonialism' by prohibiting hazardous waste exports from OECD countries to non-OECD nations. They contend that the ban provides a necessary incentive for industry to reduce waste production and toxicity, and they urge the U.S. to either ratify the entire framework or not accede to the treaty at all.

The document argues that national governments are essential for climate adaptation as they provide the finance, strategic oversight, legal authority, and institutional capacity required to drive action. To support local resilience, the text suggests integrating climate considerations into national planning, building institutional capacity through transparency and information sharing, and utilizing local champions and networks to bridge the gap between national policy and local realities. It highlights specific tools such as the Caribbean Climate Online Risk and Adaptation tool (CCORAL) and the ARIA toolkit used in Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Lucia.

The report examines the critical role of land and resource tenure in community-based conservation, contrasting the often-destructive nature of state-owned 'public' tenure with the adaptive and sustainable characteristics of community-based systems. It argues that when states delegitimize local tenure, they often create 'open access' conditions that lead to biodiversity loss and resource pillaging. Conversely, secure community tenure—characterized by flexible, overlapping rights and deep ecological knowledge—tends to support long-term resource stability. The authors advocate for the official state recognition of community perimeters rather than the detailed codification of customary laws, which can disrupt local flexibility. While acknowledging that tenure alone does not guarantee conservation success, the text concludes that the erosion of community rights is a primary driver of environmental degradation in many developing nations.

The document identifies systemic barriers to transitioning away from fossil fuels, particularly for countries heavily reliant on oil and gas revenues, such as Canada, Nigeria, and Malaysia. It argues that a successful transition requires multilateral coordination between importers and exporters, collaborative governance frameworks, and a commitment to Just Transition principles to avoid exacerbating global inequalities. Key recommendations include strategic economic diversification, the use of multi-model evidence for planning, and the implementation of restorative justice to address historical harms.

The document argues that because the energy transition is already underway due to technological shifts, countries must proactively plan for a Just Transition to avoid economic dislocation. It highlights opportunities for economic diversification, such as Ghana's investment plan to generate 400,000 net jobs by 2060, and best practices like Brazil's reallocation of petroleum revenues to reforestation. However, it identifies critical barriers, including fiscal dependence on fossil fuels in countries like Azerbaijan (where oil and gas constitute 90% of exports) and a lack of granular data on workforce impacts in Indonesia. The author proposes actionable solutions including the repurposing of coal infrastructure, the expansion of local financing mechanisms, and the anchoring of transition policies in legal frameworks to ensure long-term stability.

Trinidad and Tobago is transitioning from an economy where energy products account for approximately 37% of gross domestic output toward a low-carbon model. The country currently relies on 100% natural gas for power generation but has set a target of 30% renewable energy production by 2030 and a conditional 15% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030 from a 2013 baseline. The briefing argues that integrating renewables would allow the state to divert natural gas to downstream petrochemical production, increasing revenue and lowering the carbon footprint compared to combustion. Key obstacles include low electricity tariffs (0.055 USD/kWh) that deter renewable investment and the risk of punitive measures from the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) on petrochemical exports. The authors recommend a comprehensive decarbonisation roadmap incorporating distributional, procedural, and recognitional energy justice to protect vulnerable populations and ensure equitable participation.

Catastrophe (CAT) bonds are high-yield debt instruments that provide rapid liquidity after natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, by transferring risk to investors. The document details how these bonds are structured using parametric or industry-loss triggers and identifies the roles of commercial providers, multilateral development banks (MDBs), and regional pools. It outlines the internal and regulatory capacities governments need to issue these bonds, the challenges of basis risk and high transaction costs, and provides examples of sovereign issuances in countries like Mexico, Chile, and Jamaica.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Accreditation Panel recommends the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for accreditation as a regional entity for 'small' projects (up to USD 50 million) with a high environmental and social risk category (Category A/I-1). The CDB demonstrated strong fiduciary standards, a track record of mobilizing approximately USD 200 million for climate action, and a robust gender equality policy. However, accreditation is conditional upon the CDB establishing a public system for reporting the progress of grant-funded projects and finalizing a permanent external communications mechanism for environmental and social complaints.

The Economics for Nature (E4N) partnership (2016-2022) worked to integrate natural capital into economic and business decision-making to protect and restore biodiversity. The report identifies that while the concept of natural capital helps make nature 'material' for policymakers and businesses, systemic change is hindered by a lack of a globally agreed definition of a successful economy and a divergence in capacity between the Global North and South. Key achievements include the development of the Green Economy Tracker, the '3-returns' investment framework, and the mainstreaming of natural capital into the EU Green Deal and African Development Bank programmes. The report concludes that future progress requires putting people and Indigenous Peoples at the heart of economic design, institutionalising natural capital accounting, pursuing systemic economic reform, and scaling nature-based solutions.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate from June 1, 2024, to April 2025. It focuses on implementing decisions from the 32nd Conference of the Parties (CoP-32), expanding institutional partnerships, advancing transdisciplinary research on climate, health, and oceans, and strengthening science diplomacy through the IAI Science Diplomacy Center and the STeP Fellowship program.

The document lists the current members of the SAC and SPAC and details the criteria and expertise required for new SAC appointments. It also summarizes the committees' contributions during an intercessional period, including strategic guidance, policy revisions, and the establishment of specialized subcommittees.

The IAI's STeP Pilot Fellowship program aims to equip scientists and policymakers in Latin America and the Caribbean with skills in science diplomacy, communication, and leadership. The program focuses on creating a common language between scientific and policy communities through a two-year professional development curriculum and the establishment of an Inter-American network for knowledge exchange and multinational collaboration.

The IAI STeP Fellowship Pilot Program (2020-2024) provides a professional development framework for scientists and policymakers in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The program is structured around three training pillars: Science Diplomacy, Communication, and Leadership. It aims to equip fellows with the soft skills and transdisciplinary approaches necessary to inform policy on global change and sustainable development. The plan includes specific learning objectives, such as writing policy briefs and mastering science diplomacy, and establishes a networking strategy to foster multinational collaboration and create an alumni impact database.

The STeP fellowship is a two-year professional development program for early-career scientists and policymakers in the Americas. It focuses on three training pillars—Scientific Diplomacy, Communication, and Leadership—to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and policy-making. The program fosters an Inter-American Network of fellows, mentors, and institutions to address global environmental change and sustainable development.

The STeP Fellowship Program, implemented by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), is a two-year professional development initiative for scientists and policymakers in the Americas. The program focuses on three training pillars: science diplomacy, communication, and leadership, aiming to improve the science-policy dialogue and the uptake of scientific knowledge in policy processes. Fellows are placed in government agencies or private organizations within IAI member countries to work on national and regional agendas related to global environmental change.

The evaluation concludes that the CMC hybrid model—combining community radio and telecentre services—is an outstanding success in promoting social inclusion, cultural resilience, and poverty alleviation. Key achievements include the integration of CMCs into local communities and the creation of new livelihood opportunities. However, the report identifies significant challenges, including a lack of internal intersectoral cooperation within UNESCO, inconsistent field office support, and the financial instability of centres relying on volunteers and limited revenue. The evaluation recommends that UNESCO establish a clearer strategic interest in the initiative, develop a more structured Results Based Management (RBM) framework for scaling up, and advocate for enabling national policy environments regarding ICT connectivity and broadcast licensing.

The document examines how valuable minerals can finance violence, trigger local conflicts, and weaken state governance through corruption. It provides lessons learned for development interventions, such as empowering local communities, supporting artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), and promoting corporate responsibility. The toolkit includes a survey instrument for risk assessment and lists USAID contracting mechanisms and international partners to address mineral-related conflict.

The document highlights that over 3.2 billion people in 52 high-impact countries face cooling access challenges, with 1.05 billion at high risk. It advocates for a shift from equipment-based projections to a needs-based approach covering thermal comfort, food security, and healthcare. The report recommends national action plans, public-private partnerships, and targeted financing for the most vulnerable populations to ensure equitable access to sustainable cooling.