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This briefing argues that 'imperfect agreements'—instruments that are incomplete, transitional, or not fully formal—can be effective tools for promoting trade and sustainable development when multilateral consensus at the WTO is stalled. The author suggests that flexible, member-driven arrangements, such as targeted trade deals and soft law commitments, can generate state practice and serve as stepping stones toward formal legal codification and WTO reform.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics explains the mechanisms of El Niño, its interaction with climate change, and its global socio-economic and environmental impacts. It highlights a 61% chance of an El Niño event emerging between May and July 2026, noting that human-caused warming is likely increasing the frequency and severity of such events, while simultaneously making them harder to predict.

The research paper argues for a binding international agreement on fossil fuel subsidies within the WTO framework to address global negative externalities and climate change. It proposes using the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) as a model, specifically highlighting the Standardized Carbon Rate Measurement (SCRM) as a way to move beyond definitional debates. The authors suggest that successful subsidy reduction must be linked to a state's capacity to transition to green energy and may require WTO waivers on local content requirements to support renewable energy transitions.

This research paper by the International Institute for Sustainable Development analyzes a global database of fossil fuel production restrictions, identifying 58 active measures across 25 countries and 27 subnational jurisdictions. It examines the trajectories of these policies, noting that while restrictions have grown exponentially over the last decade, they remain politically fragile and susceptible to rollbacks during periods of high energy prices or government changes.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines two primary policy responses to climate change in Africa: carbon sequestration through forest regeneration and the implementation of a global carbon tax. It highlights the critical role of the Congo Basin as a carbon sink and analyzes four illustrative global carbon tax scenarios, concluding that a differentiated payment approach aligns best with international equity principles and the Paris Agreement.

The 60th meeting of the Executive Council of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on January 8, 2026, focused on the institutional and financial crisis triggered by the United States' withdrawal from the organization. The Council discussed severe budget reductions, the need for institutional restructuring, and efforts to diversify funding through development banks and philanthropic organizations. The meeting concluded with the decision to convene an Extraordinary Conference of the Parties in March 2026 to address these challenges.

The Renewables Bulletin Latin America and the Caribbean Edition provides an update on the region's transition to clean energy, highlighting the growth of wind and solar, the role of critical minerals, and the challenges of energy efficiency and biodiversity protection. It specifically notes a recent shift in Venezuela's energy strategy and the region's overall progress relative to global averages.

This policy brief by Transforma and Diorama Initiative analyzes the macroeconomic, financial, and social risks of Colombia's energy transition. It warns that a disordered transition could lead to significant job losses and fiscal instability due to the country's high dependence on fossil fuels. The document proposes an integrated policy framework consisting of macro-fiscal, labor, and productive-territorial packages to transform the energy transition into a broader strategy for just economic diversification.

The report 'The EV leapfrog' by Ember analyzes global electric vehicle (EV) trends in 2025, highlighting how emerging markets in Southeast Asia and Latin America are rapidly increasing EV adoption and overtaking advanced economies like the US and Japan in sales shares.

The report identifies 30 international financial mechanisms mobilizing US$ 25.9 billion for tropical forests, though this remains far below the US$ 66.8 billion annual requirement estimated by UNEP. Financing is concentrated in conservation and is heavily skewed toward a few countries like Brazil and Guyana. While REDD+ mechanisms provide over half of the identified funding, there is a significant gap in the actual disbursement of planned funds, particularly from private and blended sources.

This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) provides a financial update for the period of July to October 2025, detailing party contributions and operational expenditures for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

This document provides the technical annexes for a roadmap on climate finance for livestock in Latin America and the Caribbean. It details the methodologies used to evaluate investment risks and attributes, investor preferences, and the correlation between the two to determine investor suitability. The annexes also include modeling for capital composition across different financial and political scenarios and a detailed segmentation of the regional livestock market by geography and farm size.

This document provides the technical annexes for the 'Climate Finance Roadmap for Livestock in Latin America and the Caribbean.' It details the methodologies used to assess investment risks, investor preferences, and the resulting alignment between the two. The annexes also describe the modeling of capital composition across three scenarios—Business-as-Usual (BAU), Enhanced Financial Strategies (IFS), and Enhanced Financial and Policy Strategies (IFPS)—and provide detailed characteristics of livestock farming segments in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and other LAC countries.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) and the ClimateShot Investor Coalition (CLIC) provides a roadmap to scale climate finance for livestock systems in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It identifies a massive funding gap, analyzes investment risks and investor preferences, and proposes financial and policy scenarios to transition toward sustainable livestock practices.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) provides a strategic roadmap to increase climate finance for livestock systems in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). It identifies a massive funding gap, analyzes investment barriers—particularly for smallholders—and proposes a combination of blended finance strategies and public policy reforms to attract private capital and transition the sector toward sustainable practices.

This report details the outcomes of a multilateral simulation workshop held in Bogotá, Colombia, in October 2025. Organized by the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering (DSG), and The Degrees Initiative, the event aimed to strengthen the capacity of government representatives and researchers from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to engage in international deliberations regarding Solar Radiation Modification (SRM).

This report by Ember analyzes the challenge of solar and wind energy curtailment in Chile, where renewable generation has grown rapidly but is hindered by limited transmission and storage capacity. It proposes a phased package of policy and technical measures—including battery storage, dynamic line rating, and demand response markets—to reduce waste and maximize the potential of Chile's clean energy resources over the next five years.

This policy brief by Ember analyzes the challenge of renewable energy curtailment (vertimientos) in Chile, where solar and wind generation have grown rapidly but are hindered by transmission bottlenecks and a lack of system flexibility. The document proposes a 'Clean Flexibility Kit' of short, medium, and long-term measures—including battery storage, dynamic line rating, and demand response markets—to maximize the use of clean energy and reduce economic losses for investors.

The 33rd meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-33) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) took place in Asunción, Paraguay, on May 29-30, 2025. The meeting focused on strengthening regional scientific collaboration, advancing science diplomacy, and enhancing climate resilience across the Americas. Key outcomes included the adoption of 18 decisions, the creation of an Indigenous Peoples Advisory Committee (IPAC), the approval of an updated Open Science and Open Data Policy, and the admission of three new Associate members: the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and the Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC).

The report details the 59th meeting of the Executive Council of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on May 28, 2025, in Asunción, Paraguay. The meeting focused on approving the 2025–2026 operating budget, addressing funding deficits for regional research initiatives, and proposing a shift in how member states designate national representatives to ensure institutional continuity.