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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.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Start-Up Plan 1995 outlines the transition from interim governance to a fully operational Directorate. It details the transfer of functions from the Conference of the Parties (CoP) and Executive Council (EC) to an elected Director, the establishment of financial policies and core funding mechanisms, and the interim responsibilities of the Director pro tempore.

The IAI Science Technology & Policy (STeP) Fellowship Pilot Program (2020-2024) is a professional development initiative designed to bridge the gap between the scientific and policymaking communities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The program provides a two-year training curriculum focused on three pillars—Science Diplomacy, Communication, and Leadership—to equip scientists with the soft skills and policy knowledge necessary to inform sustainable development and global change policies.

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 briefing by Neil Coleman of the Institute for Economic Justice analyzes the geopolitical disparities in social protection between the Global North and Global South. It argues that while the Global North faces a decline in its social democratic contract, the Global South struggles with fragmented, low-value assistance and high exclusion rates. The author contends that a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is currently unaffordable under the existing economic paradigm and requires radical global redistributive reforms, such as a global minimum tax and debt relief, to become feasible.

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 report traces 50 years of UN sustainable development and climate policy, detailing the transition from the 1992 UNFCCC and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the 2015 Paris Agreement. It examines the shift from rigid distinctions between industrialized and developing nations toward a more dynamic model of 'common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities' (CBDR-RC). While the Paris Agreement achieved universal participation through Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the document notes that current collective promises remain insufficient to limit warming to 1.5°C, potentially leading to a temperature rise exceeding 3°C if not significantly increased.

This research paper by Robert Howse analyzes the current state of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement system following the blockage of the Appellate Body by the Trump administration. Howse argues that despite the absence of a functioning Appellate Body, the system remains resilient as panels continue to follow established jurisprudence, and some members are experimenting with ad hoc arbitration mechanisms like the MPIA.

This report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines how performance requirements (PRs)—stipulations imposed on foreign investors to achieve specific development goals—are treated in international investment treaties. It analyzes the tension between the use of PRs to foster sustainable development and the prohibitions on such measures found in WTO agreements and bilateral investment treaties (BITs), highlighting the risks to the policy space of developing countries.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) discusses Canada's ratification of the Minamata Convention on Mercury and the current state of mercury management in Canada, with a specific focus on Ontario. It outlines scientific assessments of mercury as a neurotoxin, the role of the IISD-Experimental Lake Area (IISD-ELA) in mercury research, and the international and domestic regulatory frameworks governing mercury emissions, releases, and waste management.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines the disruptive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment within the large-scale mining sector. It analyzes immediate impacts on direct and indirect labor, the role of national lockdown policies, and the long-term structural shifts toward automation and localized supply chains, while providing recommendations for building future resilience.

This briefing provides an overview of Fair and Equitable Treatment (FET) provisions within 68 Indian International Investment Agreements (IIAs) signed between 1995 and 2010. It categorizes these provisions into three types based on their formulation and examines the extent to which India defines the normative content of FET to guide arbitral interpretation.

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 September 2009 report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the financing requirements for climate change mitigation and adaptation in developing countries. It analyzes the gap between current funding levels and estimated needs, evaluates various proposed funding mechanisms—including national and international levies—and discusses the governance challenges of managing these funds within the UNFCCC framework ahead of the COP 15 negotiations in Copenhagen.

This report, produced by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce of China (MOFCOM), analyzes the sustainability of China's fish and fish products market supply chains. Using a Global Commodity Chain Sustainability Analysis (GCCSA) framework, the study examines three specific case studies: tilapia aquaculture, cod reprocessing, and the live reef food fish trade (LRFFT). The report evaluates these chains across ecological, economic, and social dimensions, highlighting China's pivotal role as a global producer, processor, and consumer. It identifies critical challenges including illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, traceability gaps, and environmental degradation, while recommending the adoption of national traceability systems, sustainability certifications, and strategic policy integration with China's Five-Year Plans to ensure long-term sector viability.

This brochure describes the activities and strategic priorities of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), focusing on its role as a research and innovation centre that integrates environmental and social priorities with economic development, particularly within the Canadian context.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines four proposed regime options for a post-2012 climate change framework and their impact on the "development dividend"—defined by the quality of sustainable development, the quantity of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), and the regional distribution of investments in developing countries.

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development examines agricultural cooperatives as a model for inclusive investment. It details the different types of cooperatives, their benefits for smallholder farmers, the role of foreign investment in these structures, and the necessary legal and governmental frameworks to support their success.

This briefing paper analyzes the prospects and challenges of negotiating a multilateral investment agreement within the World Trade Organization (WTO) following the Doha Ministerial Statement. It critiques existing international investment agreements (IIAs), specifically NAFTA's Chapter 11 and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), for prioritizing investor rights over public welfare and sustainable development. The author argues that the WTO may lack the institutional capacity to deliver a balanced agreement and proposes a new framework that incorporates obligations for investors and home states alongside the rights of host states to regulate in the public interest.