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The minutes of the 38th Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Council (EC), held on August 14, 2014, in Mexico City, detail the election of the EC Bureau, the establishment of guidelines for the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), and the drafting of a statement on climate change adaptation for the UNFCCC CoP-20.

The document records the decisions made during the 22nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held in Mexico City on August 13-14, 2014. The meeting focused on administrative appointments, budgetary approvals, and strategic recommendations for climate change adaptation in Latin America.

This document introduces a pilot study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development on China's copper supply chains. It argues that sustainability risks in inbound supply chains—such as environmental degradation and social problems in exporting countries—can threaten China's security of supply and international reputation. The project developed a methodology to assess these risks, testing it via copper and palm oil pilots and stakeholder consultations.

This document introduces a pilot study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), supported by the U.K. Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), which examines the relationship between sustainability and security of supply risks within China's inbound supply chains, specifically focusing on palm oil.

This synthesis report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development proposes a commodity-by-commodity framework to assess sustainability risks and vulnerabilities for importers, specifically focusing on China's global resource needs. The report argues that China's reliance on inward supply chains exposes it to systemic risks—including natural hazards, local conflict, and resource nationalism—which are currently managed in a tactical rather than strategic manner.

This document introduces the methodology for the IISD Supply Risk Tool, designed to help Chinese enterprises and policy-makers assess and manage the social and environmental risks within inbound supply chains to ensure security of supply.

This working paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the 'scaling out' of community-based adaptation (CBA) pilots, focusing on how small-scale innovations can be replicated by local actors to benefit larger populations across wider geographical areas.

This research paper analyzes the proposed New Development Bank (NDB) led by the BRICS nations, examining its potential funding models, spending priorities, and currency choices. The author argues that a democratic governance structure with equal contributions is the most viable path to ensure the bank's legitimacy and facilitate the entry of other emerging economies.

This research paper by Carlos Milani analyzes the evolution of Brazilian foreign policy, specifically its South–South co-operation (SSC) strategies. It argues for a shift in conceptualizing foreign policy as a 'public policy' rather than a static state policy, reflecting a plurality of domestic actors and interests. The document details Brazil's engagement with Africa and other developing nations through technical co-operation, trade, and political coalitions like BRICS and IBSA, while noting the strategic role of both state agencies and private corporations in these efforts.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews global studies to estimate the international finance required for climate change mitigation, specifically for a warming trajectory of no more than 2°C. It distinguishes between various metrics—such as total, incremental, and net climate-relevant investment—and highlights a significant gap between current funding and the needs of developing (non-OECD) countries.

Natural Justice, a not-for-profit association, issued a statement of support for its Fellow in India, Stella James, following her public accounts of sexual harassment. The organization condemned all forms of harassment and abuse of women, particularly within the legal profession, and requested that media refer to James's original statements and respect her privacy.

This research paper presents results from a survey of national climate change mitigation legislation and strategies across nearly all United Nations member states from 2007 to 2012, highlighting a global increase in policy coverage and a regional shift toward non-Annex I countries.

This document compares over 40 studies on regional GHG reduction targets based on various effort-sharing approaches. It finds that targets vary significantly by approach and region; for a 450 ppm CO2e stabilization level by 2030, OECD 1990 allowances would be roughly half of 2010 levels, while other regions like Asia and Latin America would see different relative reductions. The author notes that current literature covers only a small fraction of possible allocation approaches and calls for more in-depth modelling.

This briefing analyzes the World Bank Group's (WBG) risk mitigation instruments for climate change, finding that while the WBG offers comprehensive explicit, implicit, and indirect risk coverage, climate-specific instruments have not kept pace with investment needs. Between 2010 and 2012, climate-related risk commitments averaged USD 570 million annually (14% of total risk mitigation). The report highlights that IBRD has provided the most financial resources for climate risk mitigation, while IFC is the most active by number of initiatives. It recommends a clear mandate to expand these instruments, particularly guarantees and index-based tools, to better support low-carbon projects.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) outlines its institutional, research, and capacity-building activities for the period of July 2013 to June 2014, focusing on a structural transition to a tripartite system and the implementation of the CRN3 research program.

This progress report from the President of the Executive Council (CE) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) details the transition to a tripartite governance structure, the status of regional offices, and challenges regarding the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC).

This research paper by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) examines the drivers and challenges associated with Climate Compatible Development (CCD), defined as a "development first" approach that minimizes climate harm while maximizing human development opportunities in a low-emissions, resilient future. Drawing on experience from over 40 countries, the paper identifies key sociopolitical drivers—such as national resilience needs, energy security, and economic opportunities—and outlines significant barriers, including high implementation costs, political resistance, and institutional capacity gaps.

This report details the third annual Climate Knowledge Brokers (CKB) workshop held in June 2013 in Bonn, Germany. The event focused on forging collaborative links between online knowledge brokers specializing in climate and development, sharing lessons on user engagement and internet marketing, and developing shared technical tools to improve information discoverability.

This research synthesis brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) outlines strategies for transitioning biomass-dependent energy economies toward cleaner cooking stoves and fuels. It emphasizes the need for market transformation over isolated project installations, advocating for user-centered design and a deeper understanding of the social, cultural, and economic drivers of household energy decisions.

This executive summary describes a study by IRENA on financial mechanisms and investment frameworks for renewable energy (RE) in developing countries. The study analyzes global RE finance flows, provides recommendations for national policy design, and presents case studies from Asia, Africa, and Latin America to support the scaling up of renewable energy for climate mitigation.