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The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) presents its core budget request for the fiscal year 1999/2000, detailing projected expenditures, revenue estimates from member countries, and a review of the previous fiscal year's spending.

A notification from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) establishing a new deadline of July 17, 2020, for nominating members to the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) ahead of the CoP-28 meeting on August 19, 2020.

This report details several research initiatives supported by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) across the Americas. These projects focus on the intersection of environmental science and public policy, addressing nitrogen cycling, tropical dry forest conservation, climate services for agriculture, freshwater ecosystem risks, malaria transmission in the Amazon, water security in arid regions, oceanic carbon sequestration, the impact of highways on zoonotic diseases, and urban hydrological vulnerability.

This report, published by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), examines the multifaceted impacts of climate change across Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlights the disproportionate vulnerability of rural women, indigenous populations, and coastal communities, while discussing the intersection of environmental degradation with public health, education, and migration. The document advocates for a transdisciplinary approach to science that integrates local and ancestral knowledge to inform public policy and foster regional resilience.

This briefing outlines the current composition and activities of the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Science Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, including recommendations for electing new SAC members.

This report describes the methodologies used to assess climate risk and vulnerability in the tropical Andes, combining dendrochronology, hydrometeorological networks, in-situ sensors, and global circulation models to create climate change scenarios for conservation planning.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has issued Terms of Reference for a consultancy to develop training materials on science diplomacy related to global environmental change (GEC) in the Americas. This initiative supports the creation of a regional Center for Science Diplomacy (CSD) and the IAI's Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) Fellowship program.

This research paper by Rashid S. Kaukab analyzes the divisions among World Trade Organization (WTO) members regarding the regulation of e-commerce ahead of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14). It examines the tension between the multilateral Work Programme on Electronic Commerce and the plurilateral Joint Statement Initiative, focusing on the contentious moratorium on customs duties for electronic transmissions and the challenges faced by developing countries in bridging the digital divide.

This research paper analyzes the impact of US tariffs on Latin American economies and the subsequent indirect risks posed by China's potential policy responses. The authors argue that while direct US tariffs hit Mexico and Central America hardest, South American countries are more vulnerable to a slowdown in Chinese demand for raw materials.

This research paper analyzes the impact of US tariffs on Latin American economies and the subsequent indirect risks posed by China's economic response. The authors argue that while direct US tariffs heavily affect Mexico and Central America, the greater risk for South American nations lies in a potential decline in Chinese demand for raw materials resulting from US-China trade tensions.

This fact sheet describes the Trade Knowledge Network (TKN), a global collaboration of research institutions coordinated by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) since 1998. The TKN aims to promote sustainable development by strengthening research capacity in developing countries and generating policy analysis on trade and investment.

This research paper by Aaron Cosbey of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the conceptual, legal, and geopolitical challenges of implementing Border Carbon Adjustments (BCAs). It analyzes BCAs as tools to address industrial competitiveness and carbon leakage, while evaluating their compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules and their potential impact on international climate negotiations.

This briefing note, published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and CUTS International, Geneva, examines the challenges faced by developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) within the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Joint Statement Initiative (JSI) on E-commerce. It highlights a significant digital divide and capacity gaps that hinder these nations' ability to participate in negotiations and implement future agreements. The document proposes shifting from a narrow focus on regulatory cooperation toward a comprehensive approach that includes 'enabling issues' such as infrastructure and technical assistance, and suggests adopting a hybrid Special and Differential Treatment (S&DT) model based on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) to ensure capacity-building commitments are enforceable.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of investment treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms in global governance. It argues that traditional investment treaties, which prioritize investor protection, often fail to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and instead create significant financial and legal burdens for host states, potentially hindering sustainable development and climate action.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the role of investment treaties and Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanisms in global governance. It argues that traditional treaties, designed to protect foreign investors and attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), often conflict with sustainable development goals by creating 'regulatory chill' and imposing high financial costs on host states. The document advocates for an ambitious reform of investment law to prioritize public interest, environmental protection, and human rights over investor protections.

This report summarizes a regional workshop held in Panama City in February 2014 by SDplanNet-LAC. The workshop used a rapid foresight exercise to envision the governance and planning practices required for a Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) country to achieve its sustainable development goals by 2030, subsequently comparing this ideal state to the actual governance practices of 2013 to identify capacity-building needs for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

This report, produced for the SEED Initiative and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), identifies critical success factors and performance indicators for start-up social and environmental enterprises in developing countries. Based on a literature review and empirical research with ten SEED-supported enterprises, the document proposes a rapid assessment framework to help entrepreneurs and investors determine the viability of nascent ventures and monitor their progress across economic, social, and environmental goals.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a comprehensive analysis of how states can terminate old-generation bilateral investment treaties (BITs). It examines the legal frameworks under public international law, analyzes common termination and survival clause models, and reviews recent state practices. The document offers strategic recommendations for states on whether to terminate BITs unilaterally or by consent, how to handle survival clauses to reduce investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) risks, and provides drafting suggestions for new treaties to avoid the pitfalls of older models.

This briefing by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the status of implementation-related issues following the WTO Doha Ministerial Conference. It details the disputes over whether these issues are subject to negotiation or mere discussion, and reviews the failure of various WTO committees to meet deadlines or reach consensus on key trade areas including textiles, subsidies, anti-dumping, and intellectual property.

This report by Natural Justice and Kalpavriksh analyzes the legal and institutional frameworks affecting Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ conserved territories and areas (ICCAs). It identifies systemic threats to these areas, including a lack of legal recognition for customary land rights and the imposition of exclusionary conservation models. While noting positive developments in international law and specific national initiatives, the report argues that state institutions often continue to undermine ICCAs through discriminatory legislation and inaccessible judicial systems. It provides comprehensive recommendations for governments and international bodies to recognize the self-determination of Indigenous peoples and support the integrity of ICCAs through both legal reform and non-legal support mechanisms.