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The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reported a strengthened financial position as of April 30, 2017, with cash balances 179.8% higher than the previous year. While total revenues reached US$1,424,975, the institute faces ongoing challenges with unpaid contributions from some member countries, totaling US$1.31 million. Budget performance through February 2017 showed expenses 13.1% lower than the budget, though salaries were higher than expected. Administratively, the IAI implemented new accounting software and continues to work toward the full implementation of Tripartite Agreements in Argentina and Brazil.

The IISD advocates for a Canada-MERCOSUR free trade agreement that prioritizes the liberalization of environmental goods and services, the adoption of sustainability standards, and a shift in investment models from investor protection to investment facilitation. The statement emphasizes the need for transparency in negotiations and the integration of corporate social responsibility and investor accountability to protect communities and the environment.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that South Africa's draft Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update are inconsistent with the Constitution, the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), and the National Energy Act (NEA). The CER contends that the plans unjustifiably constrain renewable energy while promoting new coal-fired power stations, which they claim cause severe health impacts and contribute to climate change. They highlight that coal-fired power is no longer the least-cost option and risks creating stranded assets. The document recommends removing build limits on wind and solar, excluding new coal and nuclear power, and conducting a comprehensive assessment of external social and environmental costs.

The extraordinary CoP of the IAI, held on March 9, 2017, in Panama City, resulted in the unanimous election of Dr. Marcos Regis da Silva as Executive Director. The meeting included the appointment of a steering committee, the verification of credentials for twelve member delegations, and a review of the selection process conducted by a search committee.

The statement highlights the systemic challenges faced by women and transgender environmental activists, including the intersection of patriarchy, capitalism, and environmental destruction. Activists from various regions report that gender-based oppressions—such as the sexual division of work, lack of funding for women-led campaigns, and state persecution—hinder environmental activism. Conversely, the document emphasizes the growing international solidarity among women and queer activists who are integrating food sovereignty and anti-fossil fuel efforts with the dismantling of patriarchal systems.

The report examines the transition of the exhaustion of local remedies (ELR) rule from a customary international law requirement to one that is largely waived in modern investment treaties. It analyzes how tribunals interpret silence in treaties as a waiver and explores the legal distinctions between ELR as a jurisdictional versus procedural requirement. The document also details how ELR is applied as a substantive standard in denial of justice and expropriation claims, and concludes with recommendations for states to explicitly define ELR requirements and exceptions in their treaties to safeguard state sovereignty.

The document analyzes the 'exhaustion of local remedies' (ELR) rule, which requires foreign investors to seek redress in a host state's domestic courts before initiating international arbitration. It notes that while ELR is a cornerstone of customary international law and human rights law, it has been largely bypassed in international investment law, where silence in treaties is often interpreted as a waiver. The guide details various treaty practices—including explicit requirements, time-limited exercises of remedies, and express waivers—and reviews jurisprudence on whether ELR is a jurisdictional or procedural requirement. It concludes by providing policy recommendations for states wishing to reintroduce ELR to protect national sovereignty and strengthen domestic legal systems.

The CRN3 Researchers Meeting focused on improving the translation of scientific research into actionable policy outputs. Key discussions centered on the challenges of interdisciplinary science, the establishment of an IAI open data platform supported by the Government of Uruguay, and the creation of a special peer-reviewed journal issue to compile CRN3 position papers. The meeting also explored collaborations between IAI and global bodies like the IPCC and IPBES to better align scientific projects with national environmental frameworks.

The report analyzes seven multilateral climate funds—the Green Climate Fund (GCF), Global Environment Facility (GEF), Adaptation Fund (AF), Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Clean Technology Fund (CTF) and Strategic Climate Fund (SCF)—against five strategies for transformative change: achieving impact at scale, promoting country ownership, improving efficiency, supporting equitable allocation, and increasing accountability. It finds that the proliferation of funds has led to overlapping roles and inefficiencies. The authors recommend short-term reforms to clarify fund specialization and long-term architectural changes, including the potential consolidation or sunsetting of certain funds, such as the CIFs, SCCF, and LDCF, to streamline the climate finance landscape.

The document outlines five primary strategies for integrating climate compatible development into local political agendas: establishing cross-party consensus, linking climate action to development goals, aligning climate measures with sectoral objectives, utilizing local and national 'champions', and designing initiatives to benefit marginalized groups. It emphasizes that finding innovative, non-climate-specific entry points—such as energy security or economic alternatives—can lead to more enduring policy success. Examples include Uruguay's cross-party agreement on renewable energy, the use of 'water walks' in Madurai, India, and the integration of low-emission strategies into Bogor's municipal development plan.

The document advocates for a legally binding UN treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) accountable for human rights and environmental abuses. It highlights the failure of voluntary corporate social responsibility codes and the misuse of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms to challenge public health and environmental laws. Through case studies in Latin America and Africa, it illustrates how TNCs operate with impunity due to gaps in national legal systems and the lack of extraterritorial obligations for home states.

The document advocates for a legally binding UN treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) accountable for human rights and environmental abuses. It highlights the failure of voluntary corporate responsibility codes and the misuse of bilateral investment treaties to challenge public health and environmental laws. Through case studies in Latin America and Africa, it illustrates how TNCs operate with impunity due to legal gaps and state complicity, calling for a shift from voluntary guidelines to mandatory international regulations.

The Union of Concerned Scientists evaluated several global beef buyers using a 100-point scorecard to measure their efforts to eliminate deforestation from their supply chains. The assessment focused on five categories: ambition of commitments, time-bound implementation plans, compliance protocols, transparency, and traceability/verification. Results varied significantly, with Walmart achieving the highest score of 52, followed by McDonald's at 48 and Mars at 37. Several companies, including Burger King, Pizza Hut, Kroger, and Conagra, received a total score of 0, indicating a lack of documented commitments or practices meeting the scorecard's criteria.

The document is a participant list for the 42nd Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held in Santiago, Chile, on June 17, 2016. It lists representatives from various national governments (including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, and the USA), observers from Ecuador and Colombia, and members of the IAI Directorate and advisory committees.

The document is a participant list for the 24th Conference of the Parties held in Santiago, Chile, from June 15-16, 2016. It identifies representatives from various national governments, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the USA, as well as observers from FAPESP and Future Earth, and staff from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).

The IAI Executive Director Search Committee reports a delay in the selection process due to ambiguities regarding term limits and eligibility, specifically concerning the current Director, Holm Tiessen. The committee recommends suspending the current search to establish a formal, open advertisement and review process, rather than relying solely on member nominations. Proposed guidelines include a clear definition of the Director's term of service, a requirement for a transition overlap between incoming and outgoing directors, and a set of professional qualifications including 5-10 years of experience in scientific research grant management and proficiency in English and Spanish or Portuguese.

The Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) is seeking nominations for a member vacancy to be filled at the June 2017 Conference of the Parties in Bogotá, Colombia, following the expiration of Maria Netto's term in June 2016. The committee emphasizes that members should be selected based on their expertise in science-policy integration and global change rather than as national representatives, while also seeking geographic, gender, and ethnic balance.

This document is an official contribution from Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) to the second session of the UN open-ended intergovernmental working group (IGWG) in October 2016. It advocates for a legally binding international treaty to hold transnational corporations (TNCs) and their executives accountable for human rights violations and environmental crimes, proposing the creation of a World Court on TNCs and Human Rights and a Public Centre for control. FoEI argues that the treaty must prioritize human rights over trade and investment agreements, specifically calling for the restriction of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms that undermine public health and environmental protections.

Friends of the Earth International's 2016 submission to the UN Intergovernmental Working Group advocates for a legally binding treaty to hold transnational corporations and their financiers civilly and criminally liable for human rights and environmental violations. The document proposes the creation of an international court, the primacy of human rights over investment treaties (including ISDS), and the establishment of a public monitoring center to prevent corporate capture of the regulatory process.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) argues for a legally binding UN Treaty that establishes civil and criminal liability for transnational corporations (TNCs) and their executives. The submission emphasizes the need for a World Court on TNCs and Human Rights to overcome national judicial weaknesses and the 'pattern of impunity' enjoyed by corporations. FoEI specifically calls for the primacy of human rights over investment treaties, the elimination of Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms that undermine public health and environmental policies, and the protection of the treaty negotiation process from corporate lobbying. The document supports these claims with case studies of corporate abuses in Nigeria, Brazil, Indonesia, and other regions.