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The Eleventh Meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP), held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on June 30 and July 2, 2004, focused on administrative approvals and governance. The CoP approved the IAI Annual Program 2004/2005, the Alternative Core Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2004/2005, and the Proposed Principles regarding In-kind Contributions. It also maintained current Member Country Contributions for the 2004/2005 period and elected members for the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) and the Executive Council (EC) for 2004-2006. Additionally, the CoP recommended the launch of a call for 'Letters of Intent' for a second round of the IAI Collaborative Research Network (CRN) program, with project implementation contingent on funding from the US National Science Foundation (NSF). Canada was selected to host the twelfth CoP meeting.

The guide describes an 11-session course focused on scaling up health system adaptation in the Americas. It emphasizes moving from reactive, incremental pilot projects to transformative, system-wide resilience. Key components include vulnerability and adaptation assessments (V&A), community empowerment, strategic communication, and the integration of low-carbon transitions with climate resilience. The course also addresses governance challenges, equity for vulnerable and indigenous populations, and the necessity of partnerships between governments and civil society.

The Panama Declaration reaffirms the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) as the key regional mechanism for coordinating scientific and socio-economic research on global change in the Americas. The Conference of the Parties highlighted IAI's role in developing regional research networks, promoting interdisciplinary cooperation across Earth, marine, atmospheric, and social sciences, and enhancing technical capacities through grants and scholarships. The document emphasizes that the scientific agenda, peer review, and international collaboration should drive IAI's programs. Member states renewed their commitment to voluntary contributions and called for non-signatory states in the Americas to join the Agreement.

The report analyzes the environmental impact of Argentina's agricultural expansion from 1956 to 2005. Key findings include a significant increase in annual crop areas, leading to the loss of native forests and grasslands, particularly in the Chaco and Atlantic Forest regions. While the adoption of no-till farming has reduced soil erosion and the toxicity of pesticides has decreased over time, the expansion has caused a decline in soil phosphorus and carbon stocks, increased greenhouse gas emissions, and reduced the provision of ecosystem services. The report specifically examines the role of soybean cultivation, linking its expansion to deforestation in Northwest Argentina and an increase in pesticide contamination risks, although it notes a favorable energy efficiency for the crop.

The document outlines the requirements for a training program focused on tropical forests in the Americas. It specifies that transdisciplinary teams of three to six people—including social scientists, natural scientists, and non-academic stakeholders—must apply. Completion of the course and a subsequent evaluation allows teams to apply for seed funding for projects. The program defines tropical forests as ecosystems between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn and emphasizes the inclusion of diverse actors from the private sector, NGOs, public administration, and indigenous communities.

The document details the application of MODIS satellite imagery and automated algorithms to track land use dynamics in the La Plata River Basin. It focuses on the transition of agricultural frontiers—from deforestation to intensification—and the use of remote sensing to estimate evapotranspiration and water balance. A case study in Mato Grosso demonstrates how these tools can map the expansion of soybean and sugarcane, the adoption of double-cropping systems, and the resulting impacts on natural biomes like the Cerrado and Amazon forest.

The report argues that transdisciplinary (TD) research—which integrates diverse scientific disciplines and non-academic societal actors to solve real-world problems—is often hindered by a lack of formal coordination. Based on a 2024 workshop, the authors propose a framework for improving TD coordination centered on three goals: shifting scientific culture toward societal impact, transforming funding mechanisms to be more inclusive and flexible, and building specialized capacities in facilitation and communication. The document emphasizes the need to elevate Southern perspectives to correct power imbalances between the Global North and South in scientific collaboration.

Cuba assesses the first decade of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), noting that while regional capacity has grown, financial resources—totaling approximately 20 million dollars—have been insufficiently distributed, with only 25% directed toward capacity building in less-resourced, more vulnerable countries. Cuba recommends that the IAI integrate more closely with National Science Programs to ensure research aligns with member countries' priorities and suggests expanding the scientific agenda to include human dimensions, education, and the specific vulnerability of island nations.

The document describes a comprehensive training program focused on transitioning from isolated pilot projects to system-wide health adaptation in the Americas. It details eleven sessions covering the urgency of climate threats, the conceptual difference between incremental and transformational adaptation, and the use of vulnerability and adaptation assessments (V&As). The course emphasizes overcoming institutional resistance, integrating climate considerations into bureaucratic structures, and the importance of inclusive, Indigenous-led approaches to ensure health equity. Additionally, it addresses the need for strategic communication, cross-jurisdictional collaboration, and the synergy between health system decarbonization and climate resilience.

The CRN program established multidisciplinary international research networks to study climate variability, ecosystem functioning, and human dimensions of global change in the Americas. Key achievements include the development of high-resolution climate reconstructions using tree rings, the identification of critical soil degradation thresholds in semiarid regions, and the creation of disaster risk databases for ENSO events. The program emphasized capacity building, supporting over 600 students and producing hundreds of peer-reviewed publications, while fostering South-South and North-South scientific collaborations.

The IAI Directorate Report for July 2013 - June 2014 details the management of science network grants, including the Third Collaborative Research Network Program (CRN3) and the Small Grants for Collaborative Research in the Americas. It highlights interdisciplinary research on tropical dry forests, Andean biodiversity hotspots, and freshwater ecosystem risks. The report also outlines capacity-building seminars in Guatemala and Panama, the publication of a guide on urban climate responses in Latin America, and the IAI's strategic alignment with global initiatives such as Future Earth and IPBES.

The IAI's 2013-2014 report details the management of several research networks, including the Cooperative Research Networks (CRN3) and the MacArthur Foundation project, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches to global change. Key achievements include the development of a GIS-based climate assistant for the tropical Andes, the publication of a guide on urban climate responses in Latin America, and the establishment of strategic partnerships with IPBES, UNESCO, and Future Earth. The report also highlights the transition of the IAI's executive office to Montevideo and ongoing efforts to integrate social sciences into climate research to better inform policy decisions.

The IAI Task Force met on March 31 and April 1 to reform the IAI newsletter, establishing a new Editorial Board and a budget of $52,800 for 1998/99. The group decided to increase scientific content, integrate the newsletter into the main IAI website, and explore electronic versions through a reader survey in January 1999.

The report outlines the implementation of the RLA/92/G34 project, focusing on the deployment of GIS-SPRING 2.0 and METVIEW systems, hardware upgrades for IBM RISC 6000/250 workstations across several Latin American and Caribbean countries, and the establishment of experimental internet nodes in Costa Rica and Uruguay. It also highlights the inclusion of Jamaica in the project and proposes a potential Phase II to support the creation of regional research consortia for biodiversity and climate change.

The IAI employs an independent merit review process to ensure scientific excellence and impartiality in awarding grants. Proposals are evaluated based on scientific excellence—including interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity—and potential impacts, such as co-design with policymakers and the inclusion of underrepresented groups. The review process involves expert panels, external reviewers, and internal committees (SAC and SPAC), with a specific mandate to ensure diversity in reviewer composition across disciplines, regions, and gender. Funding decisions are categorized as 'to be funded', 'to be funded subject to availability of funds', or 'not funded/rejected', based on merit, available budget, portfolio needs, and geographic balance.

The document assesses the critical loss of biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the 'empty forest syndrome' and the desertification of the Amazon due to gold mining. It emphasizes the vital role of ecosystem services, such as the water-regulating capacity of Andean páramos and soil organic matter for sustainable agriculture. The text argues for 'inclusive conservation' that integrates indigenous territories and traditional knowledge, noting that indigenous lands often maintain higher biodiversity. It also discusses the 'blue economy' potential of the region's marine ecosystems and the risks of 'green extractivism,' specifically how lithium mining for the global energy transition threatens Andean water resources. Finally, it examines how international trade in commodities, such as soy and leather from the Gran Chaco, drives deforestation, and advocates for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Escazú Agreement to ensure environmental justice and peace.

The report argues that transdisciplinary research—which integrates academic and non-academic knowledge to solve real-world problems—often fails due to a lack of dedicated coordination. It proposes a three-pillar framework to improve this: changing scientific culture to value social impact over academic metrics, transforming funding mechanisms to be more flexible and inclusive of non-academic partners, and developing specialized capacities in facilitation, communication, and conflict resolution. The document emphasizes the need for these changes to support the Global South and ensure equitable partnerships in addressing the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

A comprehensive training resource featuring 17 case studies on science diplomacy in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on environmental governance, health, space cooperation, and sustainable resource management.

The document provides a comprehensive set of 17 case studies illustrating how science diplomacy—the intersection of foreign policy and scientific research—is used to manage transboundary resources, protect biodiversity, and regulate emerging technologies in the Americas. It defines science diplomacy through three lenses: science in diplomacy (technical input for policy), diplomacy for science (promoting national scientific communities), and science for diplomacy (using scientific cooperation to improve diplomatic ties). Key examples include the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor (CMAR), the Amazonian Regional Platform of Indigenous Peoples (ARPIP), and the Guarani Aquifer Agreement. The text emphasizes the necessity of integrating indigenous knowledge, managing multi-stakeholder governance, and aligning national policies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address climate change and environmental degradation.

The document serves as a training resource for the Science Diplomacy Center of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI). It defines science diplomacy through the AAAS typology (science in, for, and toward diplomacy) and explores its intersection with innovation diplomacy, particularly in the Global South. The core of the document consists of detailed case studies covering diverse topics: marine conservation (CMAR), indigenous knowledge in the Amazon (ARPIP), public health and climate in the Andes (PASCC), peace parks in the Cordillera del Cóndor, groundwater management of the Guaraní Aquifer, space cooperation (ALCE and SIRIS), hydroelectric impacts in the Madeira River basin, AI regulation, plastic pollution strategies, transdisciplinary research (Belmont Forum), industrial conflicts in Fray Bentos, coal power in Jamaica, EU-Mercosur trade agreements, lithium supply chain justice, pesticide regulation comparisons, and corporate sustainability governance in Juruti. Each case analyzes the role of scientific evidence in policy-making, the challenges of multilateral cooperation, and the importance of inclusive governance.