Search Climate Insights Directory

The project addresses the lack of empirical work on the links between social and ecological resilience in heterogeneous territories experiencing rapid transformation. By conducting multi-stakeholder workshops in Argentina, Brazil, and Colombia, the project co-designed research questions and developed a comparative territorial baseline using economic, social, and geographic variables. Preliminary conceptual reviews indicate a lack of clear definitions and links between ecological and social resilience in existing literature.

The project investigated the Paraná river downstream of the Porto Primavera dam in Brazil to understand how flow dynamics affect large wetlands and floodplains. Using the Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration (IHA) method, researchers found that fish migration and reproduction are strongly influenced by the duration, starting date, peak, and frequency of flood events. The study also identified that professional fishing, tourism, and recreation depend on these ecosystems, though these activities often face conflicts of interest. To address these issues, the team developed a mathematical model using Stochastic Dual Dynamic Programming (SDDP) to simulate the performance of 53 hydropower plants on the river, aiming to create operating policies that optimize both energy production and ecosystem recovery.

The document outlines multiple IAI-funded research projects focusing on environmental and social vulnerabilities in the Americas. Key initiatives include the study of nitrogen cycling and wastewater treatment in Latin America, the conservation of tropical dry forests, the provision of climate services for agriculture in southeastern South America, and the assessment of freshwater ecosystem risks. Other projects examine the link between land use and malaria in the Amazon, water security in arid regions, the role of phytoplankton in carbon sequestration, the impact of transcontinental highways on zoonotic disease risk in Peru, and urban hydrological vulnerability in Mexico City.

This conceptual note describes a workshop (August 6-8, 2025) aimed at introducing science diplomacy to professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean. The event seeks to leverage Brazil's COP30 presidency to position the region as a leader in evidence-based climate solutions. The program includes panels on science diplomacy concepts, multilateral practices, and energy transition, alongside five working groups focused on creating regional governance agendas for climate, biodiversity, health, agriculture, energy, and emerging technologies.

The document examines the multifaceted impacts of climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on vulnerable populations, ecosystem degradation, and the necessity of a transdisciplinary approach to science. Key findings highlight the disproportionate burden on rural women, the role of ocean warming in destroying artisanal fisheries, the link between habitat loss and emerging zoonotic diseases, and the increasing frequency of climate-driven migration. It specifically analyzes the 'vicious cycle' of fires in the Amazon and the challenges of water governance in the Paraná Basin. The report argues that traditional top-down scientific models often exclude the voices of those most affected, proposing a 'co-production' of knowledge between scientists and local communities to create more effective and just adaptation strategies.

The report estimates the financial contributions made by the IAI to its member countries since 1995, covering start-up grants, the Initial Science Program, the Collaborative Research Network Program, and various workshops and seminars.

The assessment identifies climate action, biodiversity conservation, and water security as primary policy priorities in the Americas, with health, poverty, and inequality emerging as new priorities. It highlights a significant barrier to evidence-based policymaking: the difficulty of communicating science to non-technical audiences. To address these gaps, the document recommends strengthening intersectoral and multinational scientific cooperation, integrating science diplomacy and transdisciplinary training for science-policy intermediaries, and strategic participation in international conventions, particularly for smaller nations.

The document lists the current members of the SAC and SPAC and details the criteria and expertise required for new SAC appointments. It also summarizes the committees' contributions during an intercessional period, including strategic guidance, policy revisions, and the establishment of specialized subcommittees.

The 'Satellite Data to Monitor Regional Environmental Change' course is a 20-hour self-paced online program for Latin American researchers. It focuses on using Google Earth Engine to analyze multi-decadal satellite records, with specific applications in tropical forest health, deforestation, forest fire monitoring, and climate projection. The curriculum is divided into five modules covering image processing, time series analysis, vector data calculations, land cover change, and the creation of public-facing interactive applications.

The report analyzes the flood and heat risks in Durán, Ecuador, finding that 60% of the canton faces medium to very high flood risk. It identifies a strong correlation between informal settlements, low socioeconomic status, and high vulnerability. The study recommends a master plan for storm drainage, the restoration of mangroves to mitigate tidal effects, and the implementation of urban green structures to increase resilience.

The document is a list of recommended readings for regional climate change responses related to health in Latin America, featuring reports from the Lancet Countdown, COP26, and specific regional plans for the Andean and Caribbean areas.

This fact sheet outlines the adoption of good agricultural practices in coffee plantations to mitigate the impacts of climate change, market price volatility, and pests like coffee leaf rust (Roya), specifically within Mesoamerica.

The project focuses on the intersection of human and natural systems in western North America, specifically addressing risks from weather extremes, water scarcity, and food security. It aims to strengthen adaptive management by promoting the exchange of climate information between scientists and policymakers, utilizing tools like the Binational Climate Summary and GIS analysis of tropical cyclones. Phase I findings indicate that while water managers are interested in seasonal forecasts, their utility is hindered by issues with spatial and temporal resolution and a lack of inter-agency cooperation. The document also notes that agriculture consumes 70% to 90% of the region's water and that population growth is increasing water and energy demands.

The project addresses gaps in local and regional biodiversity strategies by developing 'Communities of Practice Collaboratories' (CPCs) to integrate diverse knowledge systems and decentralize academia. Through case studies in four countries and a systematic literature review, the research identifies plurality, power asymmetries, and conflict as key enablers or barriers to conservation, while promoting the inclusion of local voices through a forthcoming edited book.

The MAP-FIRE project focuses on the 'MAP region' (Madre de Dios, Acre, and Pando) to address the increasing risk of extensive forest fires in the Amazon. The project has quantified the socio-environmental impacts of fire, developed near-real-time monitoring platforms for fire and air quality, and produced technical reports to assist decision-makers. Key findings highlight that drought-induced fire emissions are often omitted from national carbon inventories and that forest fires caused significant economic losses in Acre, Brazil, between 2008 and 2012.

The report identifies a significant gap between climate change and biodiversity policies in the Tropical Andes, noting that while legal frameworks exist, scientific research and institutional coordination remain fragmented. It highlights that high-altitude zones are the most vulnerable to climate change, affecting ecosystem services for lowland areas. The document details national strategies and projects in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, emphasizing the need for integrated monitoring networks, better flow of scientific data to decision-makers, and the development of multidisciplinary research to study the interaction between climate variability and species distribution.

The project addresses the lack of long-term climate data in the tropical Andes by combining dendrochronology, improved hydrometeorological networks, in-situ digital sensors, and global circulation models. These diverse data streams—including tree-ring chronologies spanning 100 to 200 years and simulations for 2011-2030 and 2045-2065—are integrated to reduce uncertainty in climate projections and inform the NatureServe vulnerability index for conservation management.

The provided text is a directory of the professional team and collaborators for a project titled 'Impactos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: Riesgo climático, vulnerabilidad y herramientas de toma de decisiones para la planificación de la conservación'. It details the names, institutional affiliations, and areas of expertise for the steering committee and various research groups specializing in climate, biodiversity (botany, entomology, and ornithology), land use, and local perceptions. The team includes experts from institutions in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, the United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Mexico, and Canada.

The Standing Rules of the Science-Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) define the governance and operational framework for the committee. The SPAC consists of five members and up to two alternates elected by the Conference of the Parties (CoP). Its primary role is to advise the CoP and the IAI Directorate on the design and use of science for policy and decision-making. The rules detail election processes, meeting frequencies—including monthly joint meetings with the Scientific Advisory Committee—and the requirements for quorum and consensus-based recommendations.

The regulations define the Science and Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC) as a five-member body elected by the Conference of the Parties. The committee provides advice on the application of science in policy formulation and decision-making, operating through specific quorum, voting, and meeting requirements.