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The IEU report for the first half of 2020 outlines the progress of several major evaluations, including assessments of the GCF's country ownership approach, environmental and social safeguards, and the Simplified Approval Process. It highlights the unit's efforts to integrate behavioural science through the new Behaviour and Design Lab (BaDLab) and the LORTA programme. The report also details extensive communication efforts via webinars and social media to increase the uptake of evaluation findings, and provides a budget update showing a total expenditure and commitment of USD 2,447,221 against a 2020 budget of USD 5,581,985 as of 30 April 2020.

In 2019, wind and solar generated 8.2% of global electricity, with the EU leading at 18%. The report highlights that wind and solar are now the cheapest new generation sources for two-thirds of the global population and that electricity grids remained stable during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns even as renewable shares reached record highs in countries like Denmark (65%), Germany (45%), and Greece (41%). To limit temperature increase to 1.5 degrees, the report notes that coal's market share must drop from 35% to 8% by 2030, requiring wind and solar's share to increase to approximately 29%.

The IAI Executive Directorate's 2019-2020 report details progress in transdisciplinary research, capacity building, and open science, while noting significant disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key achievements include the launch of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) fellowship program in Argentina and the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organization of American States (OAS). The report also highlights efforts to align scientific agendas with human systems and the development of a flexible funding mechanism for the Americas in collaboration with the Belmont Forum.

The IAI and SECTEI have signed a letter of intent to collaborate on science diplomacy and government scientific advisory, specifically focusing on global environmental change and sustainable development. A primary initial activity is the integration of Mexico City scientific advisors into the IAI Science, Technology and Policy Fellowship (STeP) program. Under this agreement, SECTEI will propose at least four fellows for the 2020-2021 period and manage their institutional conditions, while the IAI will provide professional training, fund two international trips per fellow, and facilitate international networking. The collaboration aims to strengthen the 'Catedra de Diplomacia y Patrimonio de la Ciencia' and the 'Programa de Estancias de Interfaz Ciencia-Politica de la Ciudad de México' to ensure public policy is based on scientific evidence.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) identifies three factors driving the adoption of open science in Latin America and the Caribbean: a high reliance on public funding for research, a long history of open access initiatives dating back to the 1970s, and the creation of regional governance tools like the Escazú Agreement. The document highlights the FAPESP foundation in Brazil as a successful public funding model and advocates for the reform of scientific publishing economic models, specifically criticizing article processing charges. It suggests that South-South cooperation, including learning from ASEAN countries and the African Open Science Platform, can strengthen the Global South's voice in the international science community.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has proposed a revised Scientific Agenda to its Conference of the Parties. This update aligns the agenda with the IAI Strategic Plan, emphasizing transdisciplinary science and the integration of human systems. The proposed agenda is organized into four primary research themes: human dimensions and policy consequences, climate variability in the Americas, ecosystems and biodiversity, and the chemical composition of the atmosphere, oceans, and freshwater. These themes aim to address regional sustainability, including food and water security, climate adaptation, and biodiversity conservation across the Americas.

The document identifies the Technical Assistance (TA) Facility for the Global Subnational Climate Fund as a Category I-2 environmental and social safeguards project. It lists target countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean, and confirms that an Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) has been disclosed in multiple languages to comply with requirements.

The IAI and CLARA have entered into a non-binding agreement to promote regional scientific capacities through the use of advanced networks, focusing on data management, open publications, and technological infrastructure for global change research in Latin America.

The statement argues that the COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgent need for governments to focus all resources on public health, specifically the procurement of medical supplies, vaccines, and medicines. It calls for the immediate suspension of trade and investment negotiations at the WTO, bilateral, and regional levels, asserting that such activities divert critical resources and personnel. The authors highlight that intellectual property rules under the WTO's TRIPS agreement and free trade agreements may obstruct the affordability and accessibility of life-saving supplies. The document demands the removal of all trade barriers and unilateral sanctions that hinder medical procurement and urges a fundamental rethink of trade rules that encourage monopolies and limit healthcare access.

Friends of the Earth International and a broad coalition of global endorsers call for an immediate cessation of trade and investment treaty negotiations. They argue that governments, particularly in developing and least developed countries, lack the resources to engage in these negotiations while managing the COVID-19 health crisis. The statement demands that trade negotiators focus exclusively on removing obstacles, such as intellectual property rules and unilateral sanctions, that hinder access to affordable vaccines, medicines, and diagnostics.

The agreement between IAI and CONCYTEC creates a formal structure for collaboration on global change research, focusing on capacity building, scientific networking, and the exchange of researchers and data within the Americas, specifically supporting the integration of Peruvian scientists into international initiatives.

The report argues that natural gas is not a viable 'bridge' fuel but rather a risk to climate stability and shareholder value. It highlights that new gas infrastructure is increasingly incompatible with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C goal and faces significant economic threats from the falling costs of renewables and storage. The document details how utilities face 'stranded asset' risks, regulatory pressure from state and city decarbonization mandates, and customer defection to community choice aggregations and corporate clean energy contracts. It suggests that 'steel for fuel' strategies—replacing fossil fuel generation with capital investment in renewables—offer a more sustainable financial model. The report concludes by urging investors to demand better disclosure on emissions and transition plans and to support policies like performance-based regulation and securitization to facilitate a just and rapid energy transition.

The document outlines a framework for incorporating nature-based solutions into climate commitments, emphasizing the need for measurable targets, biodiversity benefits, and the integration of both mitigation and adaptation strategies.

The Global Futures project uses a new integrated environment-economy model to quantify the economic risks of biodiversity loss. Under a 'Business-as-Usual' scenario, the loss of six key ecosystem services is projected to reduce annual global GDP by 0.67% by 2050, totaling a cumulative loss of US$ 9.87 trillion. Conversely, a 'Global Conservation' scenario could result in a net annual gain of US$ 490 billion compared to the BAU scenario. The report highlights that low-income countries and coastal infrastructure in high-income nations are most vulnerable, and recommends a 'New Deal for Nature and People' including the protection of 30% of land and oceans.

The analysis of 19 NAPs reveals that while all reviewed documents integrate ecosystem considerations and vulnerabilities, the explicit link between ecosystem services and societal adaptation benefits remains generic. Latin American countries show the strongest integration of EbA and links to biodiversity strategies. Key gaps include limited monitoring of outcomes, insufficient private sector engagement, and under-representation of urban EbA and hybrid grey/green infrastructure. The report suggests that NAPs should move beyond business-as-usual conservation to explicitly address climate hazards and target specific vulnerable groups.

The report finds significant progress in positioning women as adaptation stakeholders and using gender analysis for planning, but notes limited progress in establishing inclusive stakeholder engagement platforms and gender-equitable institutional arrangements. It emphasizes that while more countries are recognizing the link between gender and climate change, sustained investment in capacity development, vertical integration, and gender-responsive finance is required to ensure equitable adaptation outcomes.

The analysis of 19 National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) reveals that while most countries recognize ecosystem vulnerability and include some EbA measures, these are often generic and lack explicit links to specific climate risks or measurable outcomes. Latin American countries show the strongest integration of EbA and biodiversity strategies. Significant gaps exist in urban EbA, private sector involvement, and the identification of financial resources, suggesting a need for more SMART objectives and intersectoral integration to enhance human and ecological resilience.

The report evaluates the integration of gender considerations in National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes, identifying significant progress in positioning women as stakeholders and using gender analysis for planning. However, it notes limited progress in establishing inclusive stakeholder participation platforms and gender-responsive institutional arrangements. The document advocates for increased investment in capacity building, vertical integration between national and sub-national levels, and gender-responsive adaptation financing to ensure equitable climate resilience.

The toolkit argues that climate change impacts are not gender-neutral and that adaptation investments may reinforce existing inequalities if gender considerations are ignored. It provides a framework for integrating gender-responsive principles across the entire NAP process, from initial stocktaking and vulnerability assessments to implementation strategies and monitoring. The document details specific 'entry points' and 'enabling activities'—such as institutional arrangements, capacity development, and gender-responsive budgeting—to ensure that adaptation benefits are equitably distributed. It also provides a suite of six key tools, including gender analysis and multi-criteria analysis, to operationalize these principles.

The document serves as a supplement to the UNFCCC Technical Guidelines for the NAP process, offering a flexible framework to address gender inequalities in climate adaptation. It details specific 'entry points' within the NAP cycle—from launch and vulnerability assessment to implementation and monitoring—where gender considerations can be integrated. The toolkit emphasizes that climate impacts are not gender-neutral and that failing to address gender dynamics can inadvertently increase social inequality. It provides practical tools for gender analysis, inclusive facilitation, multi-criteria analysis for prioritization, and gender-responsive budgeting. Case studies from countries such as Peru, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Fiji illustrate the application of these principles in national planning and the use of international finance, such as the Green Climate Fund, to empower women as agents of change.