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The document translates the global findings of the IPCC SREX report into a regional context for Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasizing that disaster risk is increasing due to rising vulnerability and exposure. It details observed and projected climate extremes—such as increased heatwaves and variable precipitation—and argues for the integration of disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) and sustainable development. The report highlights the importance of both incremental and transformational changes, including the use of risk transfer mechanisms like insurance and the necessity of global greenhouse gas mitigation to avoid the most severe impacts.

The report highlights that disaster risk in Latin America and the Caribbean is increasing due to heightened exposure and vulnerability, even independent of climate change. It details observed and projected trends in temperature and precipitation extremes across the region and argues for the integration of disaster risk management (DRM) with climate change adaptation (CCA) to build long-term resilience.

The IAI report details the conclusion of the second round of Cooperative Research Networks (CRNII) and the Small Grants Program for Human Dimensions (SGP-HD), highlighting research on land-use change in the Plata Basin and biodiversity in the tropical Andes. It outlines new NSF-funded grants for 2012-2018, various regional capacity-building workshops on climate and health, and efforts to communicate findings at UNFCCC events. The report also documents severe administrative instability in Brazil, including personnel contract irregularities and disputes with the Brazilian tax administration.

The report examines the role of hydropower in Latin America and the Caribbean's transition to low-carbon development. While the region relies heavily on hydropower—supplying 46% of its electricity—climate change poses risks through glacier retreat and precipitation variability. The authors advocate for integrated planning using the WEAP and LEAP tools to manage the water-energy nexus and navigate tradeoffs between hydropower, biofuels, and other water demands.

The report examines 17 arbitral awards from ICSID, UNCITRAL, and SCC tribunals between September 2010 and October 2011. It highlights ongoing controversies over the definition of 'investment,' including the inclusion of sovereign debt and commercial contracts. It discusses the 'pick and choose' approach to Most-Favoured Nation (MFN) clauses, the high threshold for proving expropriation, and the broad interpretation of Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) standards. The document also notes the rejection of jurisdiction in cases where investors failed to prove 'real economic activity' or where national investment laws lacked explicit consent to international arbitration.

The paper examines the instrumental link between income inequality and social trust, which is considered essential for the collective action required for sustainability. Using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) on World Values Survey data from 20 country-year combinations, the author finds that both absolute income and income inequality significantly influence social trust. Specifically, trust rises with income but falls as income inequality (measured by the Gini coefficient) increases. The analysis suggests that neither economic growth nor redistribution alone is sufficient to significantly raise trust levels in low-trust societies; instead, a combination of stable growth and narrowing income distributions over approximately two decades is required to produce meaningful changes in social cohesion.

The briefing describes Angola's political system as a hybrid of a formal government ruled by the MPLA and a more resilient 'shadow' government controlled by President José Eduardo Dos Santos. This shadow structure, powered by the national oil company Sonangol, manages international policy, money supply, and security independently of formal ministries. The author argues that recent legislative changes, including the 2010 constitution, have formalized the president's unlimited power and weakened the formal state's autonomy. While the regime maintains stability through a vast patronage network, the document identifies internal tensions within the MPLA and the risks of uncontrolled corruption as primary threats to the system's reproduction.

The IAI is transitioning toward a 'Center of Excellence' model for water security, headquartered at the University of Arizona and the Universidad Católica de Santiago, to better integrate transdisciplinary research on hydrology and climate. Scientific synthesis has highlighted that biophysical changes in land use, such as albedo and evapotranspiration, are as critical as biogeochemical effects. The Institute has expanded its capacity-building through training institutes in Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay, focusing on seasonal climate predictions and urban responses to climate change. Administratively, the IAI faces significant instability due to personnel contracting issues in Brazil and a lack of official response from the Brazilian government regarding host country agreement amendments, leading the Executive Board to seek alternative host countries.

The Cancun Climate Summit is characterized as a moderate success that restored faith in the multilateral process following the Copenhagen summit. Key outcomes included the first official UN agreement to keep global temperature increases below 2°C, the recognition of voluntary emission reduction plans for 2020, and the establishment of financial mechanisms for developing countries, including a 30 billion dollar transfer for 2010-2012 and the creation of the Green Climate Fund. While the summit made progress on measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) and forest protection (REDD+), it left the decision on a second Kyoto Protocol period to the 2011 Durban summit. The authors attribute the success to the leadership of the Mexican government and the UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

The document reports that only 40% of the original tropical dry forests in the Americas remain, with only 4.5% (23,417 km2) under protection. Satellite data from 1982 to 2006 shows divergent productivity trends: increases in the Llanos of Venezuela and Colombia, northern Mexico, and the Chaqueña region of Argentina and Bolivia, but decreases in other parts of Mexico and the Brazilian Caatinga. These shifts are linked to global warming's impact on precipitation and humidity. The text warns that declining productivity reduces carbon storage and water retention, while increased productivity may inadvertently encourage further deforestation and agricultural intensification. It advocates for expanded protection, sustainable land management, and economic incentives like payments for environmental services and REDD+ to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem services.

The document analyzes the legitimacy crisis in investor-State arbitration caused by the 'dual role' of individuals acting as both impartial arbitrators and partisan counsel. It reviews the arbitration rules of ICSID, UNCITRAL, ICC, and SCC, finding that while they require independence, their application is inconsistent and often lacks transparency. The paper highlights specific cases where concurrent service led to challenges, and compares these to stricter standards in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). It concludes by recommending a clear proscription against concurrent service, suggesting reforms through rule amendments, institutional interpretations, revised IBA Guidelines, or express provisions in International Investment Agreements (IIAs).

The document analyzes the growth and modification of International Investment Agreements (IIAs), noting a trend toward more precise treaty language to preserve state regulatory space, particularly regarding environmental and labor standards. It also details the rise in investor-State disputes, highlighting that while states and investors have similar win rates in concluded cases, the financial stakes and costs of defense are increasing, with developing countries frequently appearing as respondents.

The report advocates for Zero Net Deforestation and Forest Degradation (ZNDD) by 2020 to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change. Using the Living Forests Model developed with IIASA, it analyzes various scenarios, including a 'Do Nothing' baseline and a 'Target' scenario. The findings suggest that while ZNDD is technically possible in the short term, maintaining it beyond 2030 will require unprecedented increases in agricultural productivity and significant shifts in global consumption patterns, particularly regarding animal calories. The document highlights critical trade-offs, such as the risk of shifting environmental pressure to non-forest biomes like grasslands and the potential for increased agricultural pollution due to intensification.

The document outlines the climate finance requirements for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, estimating annual mitigation needs between US$40–80 billion and adaptation needs between US$18–21 billion by 2030. It highlights the region's unique emissions profile, where land-use change is the primary driver of greenhouse gases, particularly in South America. The briefing argues that the AGF's recommendations for public-private partnerships and carbon-based revenue sources offer significant opportunities, provided that the region secures an equitable share of adaptation grants and establishes a robust framework for reducing emissions from deforestation (REDD+).

The document provides a comprehensive survey of quantitative research on the health impacts of climate change, categorizing studies by their methodological approach (primary, secondary, and comparative risk assessments) and the statistical models employed (time-series, non-parametric, and panel/spatial models). It highlights the complex relationship between climatic variables and diseases, particularly malaria, and reviews major global reports from the WHO and the Stern Review to outline the broader economic and public health implications of global warming.

The action list from the 30th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council, held on 11 June 2010 in Brasilia, Brazil, outlines administrative decisions, diplomatic outreach strategies to strengthen member country relations, and the formation of a group to develop a strategic plan.

The 30th Executive Council (CE) meeting of the IAI established its new leadership, committed to improving member country engagement through national UNFCCC contact points, and initiated the development of a strategic plan to be approved at the next CoP.

The document is a participant directory for the 17th Conference of the Parties (CoP) held in Brasília, Brazil, on June 9-10, 2010. It lists representatives from various countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the United States, Mexico, Paraguay, and Venezuela, as well as observers from the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) and staff from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).

The action list from the 29th Meeting of the IAI Executive Council outlines administrative approvals, the formation of committees for SAC member nominations and financial oversight, and the initiation of a strategic plan draft.

This document is a participant list for the 29th Executive Council (EC) meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held on June 8, 2010, in Brasília, Brazil.