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This briefing from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reports on the implementation of Decision XXV/22 regarding public access to official documents and the establishment of a standardized numbering system for official records.

The document outlines a formal partnership between IAI and the IPBES Secretariat to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity in the Americas. The cooperation focuses on integrating regional data into IPBES assessments, addressing knowledge gaps, and supporting the implementation of the IPBES Work Programme within IAI member countries. It defines operational guidelines for bilateral meetings, intellectual property, fundraising, and the use of official logos, with an initial duration ending on 30 May 2019.

The IAI Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) report details its 2016-2017 activities, including the election of Edwin Castellanos as chair and participation in climate-related dialogues in Bonn and the Dominican Republic. The committee proposed a two-part 25th-anniversary publication strategy consisting of a general public booklet and a peer-reviewed special issue in the journal Environmental Management. The report also addresses the transition to a new IAI director and recommends diversifying the SAC's future membership to include more social scientists and representatives from Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) report details its administrative transitions, including the election of Edwin Castellanos as president and the resignation of Trevor Platt. It outlines plans for a 25th-anniversary publication and a special edition of the Journal Environmental Management, both focused on the IAI's impact and interdisciplinary research. The SAC also reports on its participation in the SBSTA Research Dialogue in Bonn and a professional development seminar in the Dominican Republic on transdisciplinary approaches to sustainability. Finally, the committee recommends expanding the social science and geographic representation of its membership, specifically within the Americas and the Caribbean.

The document provides a comprehensive historical record of the IAI's governance, detailing the outcomes of its Conferences of the Parties (CoP) from 1997 to 2017. Key recurring activities include the election of the Executive Council (CE), the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC), and the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC), as well as the approval of annual operating budgets and country contributions. The records track the evolution of the institute's administrative framework, including the establishment of a Tripartite Headquarters structure, the development of open data and science policies, and the implementation of strategic plans for global change research. It also documents the institute's efforts to enhance science communication, manage funding through mechanisms like the Belmont Forum, and maintain diplomatic relations with member states across the Americas.

The IAI Science Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) report outlines strategic recommendations to improve the visibility, engagement, and financing of science-policy linkages. It details a December 2016 workshop in Mar del Plata, Argentina, where researchers and decision-makers collaborated on five thematic areas: health and diseases, land use and hydrology, weather forecasting and early warning, coastal and marine management, and urban monitoring. The report advocates for increased IAI Directorate capacity, specifically in outreach and fundraising, and suggests strengthening participation in international conventions and private sector engagement to enhance the application of scientific data in regional governance.

The report outlines the SPAC's efforts to bridge the gap between scientific knowledge and decision-making in the Americas. It provides strategic recommendations for the IAI regarding visibility, policy engagement, and financing, while detailing the outcomes of a multi-sectoral workshop in Argentina that integrated scientific research on health, coasts, land use, weather forecasting, and urban environments into local governance.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) reported a strengthened financial position as of April 30, 2017, with cash balances 179.8% higher than the previous year. While total revenues reached US$1,424,975, the institute faces ongoing challenges with unpaid contributions from some member countries, totaling US$1.31 million. Budget performance through February 2017 showed expenses 13.1% lower than the budget, though salaries were higher than expected. Administratively, the IAI implemented new accounting software and continues to work toward the full implementation of Tripartite Agreements in Argentina and Brazil.

The extraordinary CoP of the IAI, held on March 9, 2017, in Panama City, resulted in the unanimous election of Dr. Marcos Regis da Silva as Executive Director. The meeting included the appointment of a steering committee, the verification of credentials for twelve member delegations, and a review of the selection process conducted by a search committee.

The CRN3 Researchers Meeting focused on improving the translation of scientific research into actionable policy outputs. Key discussions centered on the challenges of interdisciplinary science, the establishment of an IAI open data platform supported by the Government of Uruguay, and the creation of a special peer-reviewed journal issue to compile CRN3 position papers. The meeting also explored collaborations between IAI and global bodies like the IPCC and IPBES to better align scientific projects with national environmental frameworks.

The report details the outcomes of the "Science for Action" campaign conducted by the SDG Media Zone and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) during COP-23. The campaign utilized live interviews and social media coverage to promote the Sustainable Development Goals and the communication of science for decision-making, achieving over 2.5 million impressions and reaching more than 780 thousand people across 30 countries.

The document examines the complexities of groundwater governance, distinguishing it from surface water management due to the resource's invisibility and dispersed private exploitation. It highlights the critical interdependence between governance and technical monitoring, using the Netherlands as a model for integrated data collection. A global diagnostic reveals significant gaps in actor participation, legal harmonization, and policy scope across different stages of management development. The paper also addresses the scarcity of dedicated international treaties for the 592 identified transboundary aquifers and concludes with a strategic roadmap for 2030 to prevent irreversible degradation of aquifer systems.

The document is a participant list for the 42nd Executive Council Meeting of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held in Santiago, Chile, on June 17, 2016. It lists representatives from various national governments (including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Paraguay, and the USA), observers from Ecuador and Colombia, and members of the IAI Directorate and advisory committees.

The document is a participant list for the 24th Conference of the Parties held in Santiago, Chile, from June 15-16, 2016. It identifies representatives from various national governments, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the USA, as well as observers from FAPESP and Future Earth, and staff from the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI).

The IAI Executive Director Search Committee reports a delay in the selection process due to ambiguities regarding term limits and eligibility, specifically concerning the current Director, Holm Tiessen. The committee recommends suspending the current search to establish a formal, open advertisement and review process, rather than relying solely on member nominations. Proposed guidelines include a clear definition of the Director's term of service, a requirement for a transition overlap between incoming and outgoing directors, and a set of professional qualifications including 5-10 years of experience in scientific research grant management and proficiency in English and Spanish or Portuguese.

The 2016 SPAC report proposes a strategic framework to increase the visibility of global change research among decision-makers in the Americas. The plan focuses on four key areas: developing an outreach plan to diffuse research results, coordinating with the Science Advisory Committee (SAC) to refine the science agenda, improving engagement with public and private sector decision-makers, and identifying diverse financial mechanisms for research. Key recommendations to the Conference of the Parties include strengthening the IAI directorate's capacity, training scientists in policy communication, and increasing linkages with international environmental conventions such as the UNFCCC and CBD.

The 2016 SPAC report proposes a strategic framework to increase the visibility of the IAI among public and private decision-makers, align research with regional policy demands, and diversify funding sources. It recommends creating a long-term science-policy integrator network and improving the capacity of the IAI's Science-Policy Liaison Directorate (SPLD) to better translate research into policy-relevant information.

The Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) is seeking nominations for a member vacancy to be filled at the June 2017 Conference of the Parties in Bogotá, Colombia, following the expiration of Maria Netto's term in June 2016. The committee emphasizes that members should be selected based on their expertise in science-policy integration and global change rather than as national representatives, while also seeking geographic, gender, and ethnic balance.

The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is seeking nominations for two positions to be filled in June 2016 at the Conference of the Parties in Santiago de Chile. One vacancy is held by Dr. Michele Grunauer Andrade from Ecuador, who is eligible for re-election. The SAC specifies that candidates must possess high academic excellence, a PhD or equivalent, and a multidisciplinary approach. Priority areas for the 2016 nominations include climate sciences (observations, simulations, and impact assessment), ecosystem services and marine/terrestrial biodiversity, and humanities (urban planning, economics, and social health related to epidemics and environmental factors). The committee also emphasizes the need for geographic, gender, and ethnic balance, specifically inviting nominations for minority groups.

The report details the conclusion of the Small Grants Program for Cooperative Research in the Americas (SGP-CRA) and the ongoing progress of the Third Cooperative Research Networks Program (CRN3). It highlights the mobilization of US$ 26 million from an initial US$ 2.75 million investment in SGP-CRA and the implementation of 17 multidisciplinary networks under CRN3. Key achievements include the influence of research on legislation in Argentina, the development of hurricane forecasting for Baja California, and the creation of a coastal risk decision tool for 25 Caribbean countries. The report also notes the start of the CONICET-IAI partnership and the development of the Inter-American Forum for Global Change Research Cooperation to expand multilateral funding.