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This report from the Executive Directorate of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details activities and progress between December 2002 and May 2003. It outlines the implementation of six core strategies focused on consolidating research networks, developing a new scientific agenda, enhancing capacity building in scientifically weaker member countries, and increasing the institute's visibility through international partnerships and advisory services.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Status Report as of April 30, 2003, details the institute's financial standing for the 2002/2003 fiscal year, including core and program budgets, as well as administrative updates regarding staffing and office space.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

The document contains the approved minutes of the Sixteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the transition to a new Director, financial audits, the restructuring of working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment and scientific capacity building in the Americas.

Minutes from the 16th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 2-3, 2002, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on the appointment of a new Executive Director, financial audits, the restructuring of ad hoc working groups, and strategies to increase member country commitment.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) submitted a core budget request for the 2003/2004 fiscal year, maintaining a total request of $939,170, identical to the previous year. The document outlines a 'zero growth' approach to operating expenses while proposing an 8% increase in member country contributions to avoid a cash deficit by 2005/2006.

This policy brief examines how the World Bank, IMF, and international trade/investment agreements (such as GATS and BITs) pressure developing countries to privatize water services. It argues that these mechanisms often create 'lock-in' effects, where legally binding international obligations prevent governments from regulating water prices or reversing privatization to protect the human right to water. The document emphasizes that water is a social and cultural good, not merely a commodity, and urges policy makers to conduct thorough human rights and environmental assessments before committing to liberalization.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the status of agricultural negotiations following the Doha Ministerial Declaration. It outlines the 'Doha Mandate' for market access, export subsidies, and domestic support, while highlighting the deep divisions between developed nations, the Cairns Group, and the Like-minded Group of developing countries regarding the implementation and definition of these commitments.

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) details the status of negotiations within the WTO TRIPs Council regarding intellectual property rights, public health, and geographical indications following the 2001 Doha Declaration.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) details the progress of the WTO Negotiating Group on Rules following the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha. It examines the divisions between developed and developing nations regarding anti-dumping measures, subsidies—specifically fisheries subsidies—and the governance of regional trade agreements (RTAs).

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) outlines the progress and obstacles regarding trade and environment mandates following the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference (Doha). It details negotiations on the relationship between WTO rules and multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), the liberalisation of environmental goods and services, and non-negotiating mandates such as market access and labelling.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the progress of the WTO Working Group on Trade, Debt and Finance (WGTDF). Established by the Doha Ministerial Declaration, the group aims to analyze how the multilateral trading system can help resolve the external indebtedness of developing and least-developed countries and improve coherence between trade and international financial policies.

This report by Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) examines the global trend toward the privatization and commercialization of water resources. It argues that water should be treated as a social and cultural right rather than an economic commodity, highlighting how international financial institutions and multinational corporations marginalize poor populations and damage ecosystems through profit-driven management.

This report analyzes the adoption and impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Argentine agriculture from the 1990s to 2003. It details the rapid expansion of glyphosate-tolerant soybean, the regulatory framework managed by CONABIA, and the socio-economic shifts resulting from structural reforms and technological intensification. The document evaluates the distribution of benefits between producers and multinational seed companies, the environmental effects of the 'no-till' (siembra directa) system, and the challenges posed by illegal seed markets ('bolsa blanca').

The document contains the minutes and resolutions of the Tenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Conference of the Parties (CoP), held on June 3 and 5, 2003, in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The meeting focused on approving the annual program and core budget for FY 2003/2004, updating the IAI Science Agenda, and addressing critical funding shortages caused by member country arrears.

This briefing paper examines the Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) within the WTO framework, focusing on its structure, the challenges of reaching consensus, and its implications for sustainable development and developing countries.

The document contains the minutes and action lists from the Fifteenth Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on June 25-26, 2002, in São José dos Campos, Brazil. The meeting focused on financial management, the approval of scientific grants, the selection of new Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) members, and the establishment of an External Review Committee.

This briefing paper assesses the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held from 26 August to 4 September 2002 in Johannesburg. It details the resulting political declarations, implementation plans, and partnership commitments, while analyzing the political tensions between developed and developing nations regarding renewable energy targets, corporate accountability, and the role of the WTO in environmental governance.

This research paper examines agri-environmental and rural development programs within the WTO framework, specifically focusing on the 'Green Box' of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). It analyzes the practices of the 'Quad' countries (EU, US, Canada, and Japan) and evaluates how the Doha Round negotiations might impact the ability of developing countries to implement similar sustainable agriculture policies.

This document records the decisions made during the ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in São José dos Campos, Brazil, on June 27-28, 2002.