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The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Executive Directorate's summary report for the 2020-2021 intersessional period details progress in scientific research, capacity building, and science-policy interfaces despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Key achievements include the launch of the Science, Technology and Policy (STeP) fellowship program, the establishment of new strategic partnerships with entities like the Wellcome Trust and Mitacs Canada, and the implementation of transdisciplinary projects on climate-driven infectious diseases in the Caribbean.

This policy brief examines the international governance of biosafety, focusing on the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It details the history of modern biotechnology, the tensions between exporting and importing nations regarding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the mechanisms used to manage the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) to protect biodiversity and human health.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative proposes 'Recovery Bonds' as a mechanism for sovereign nations to raise capital for climate-resilient, post-COVID-19 economic recovery, specifically focusing on sovereign green bonds and bonds linked to fossil fuel subsidy reform (FFSR).

The Framework for Sustainable Finance Integrity is a consultation draft by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) designed to provide guardrails, minimum benchmarks, and leadership benchmarks to ensure the financial sector's transition to net zero and sustainability is credible and impactful. It addresses the lack of universally accepted standards and the siloed nature of existing financial coalitions, proposing a structured approach to measure progress across targets, implementation, and transparency.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sovereign debt in low- and medium-income countries and proposes the use of Debt for Climate (DFC) swaps to create fiscal headroom for green recovery and climate action.

A briefing by the World Resources Institute (WRI) analyzing the World Bank Group's draft Climate Change Action Plan through 2025, arguing that the plan is insufficient and proposing five specific areas for improvement to better align with the Paris Agreement and net-zero goals.

A statement by the Green Economy Coalition and the World Fair Trade Organization arguing that Fair Trade Enterprises provide a blueprint for reforming the global economy by prioritizing community benefit, environmental engagement, and long-term supplier partnerships over short-term profit maximization.

The IAI Directorate reports on the implementation of its Strategic Plan, noting COVID-19 related delays and proposing a shift in the plan's revision cycle to 2023-2024. The report introduces a comprehensive system of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), leading metrics, and lagging metrics to measure organizational success and research impact in the Americas through 2044.

Friends of the Earth International calls for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights (TRIPS waiver) on Covid-19 vaccines and medical supplies to end "Vaccine Apartheid" and ensure global immunisation. The statement argues that corporate monopolies and the hoarding of vaccines by wealthy nations have created a moral crisis, leaving the global South with alarmingly low vaccination rates while high-income countries prioritise profits and their own citizens.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International calling for a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to ensure global equity and a "just recovery."

Friends of the Earth International calls for a 'People's Vaccine' and a temporary waiver of intellectual property rights (TRIPS) at the World Trade Organization (WTO) to ensure equitable global access to COVID-19 vaccines, arguing that corporate monopolies and profit-driven distribution are creating a 'vaccine apartheid' that disproportionately affects the Global South.

This research paper by the NewClimate Institute examines the design and data requirements for an effective Global Stocktake (GST) process under the Paris Agreement, identifying four primary functions the process should fulfill and proposing specific mechanisms to maximize its effectiveness.

This briefing by RMI outlines six innovative funding mechanisms used by US cities to finance climate mitigation, resilience, and environmental justice, emphasizing the integration of equity to support marginalized communities.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural value chains within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It argues that while the agricultural sector was less severely affected than others, the pandemic exacerbated existing structural weaknesses, such as food insecurity and a heavy reliance on subsistence farming. The document proposes a 'dual approach' to development that supports both small-scale and large-scale commercial farming, alongside the adoption of digital technologies, climate-smart infrastructure, and the full implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to drive regional integration and growth.

The 2021 edition of the Chilling Prospects series tracks immediate vulnerability and health risks resulting from a lack of access to cooling across various populations and sectors.

The Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) issued a statement condemning state-sanctioned violence against peaceful protesters in Colombia, which resulted in at least 19 deaths. The organization highlights a history of violence against Indigenous Peoples and environmental defenders and calls for the Colombian government and international community to protect human rights and the right to peaceful assembly.

The Climate Action Tracker (CAT) reports that global warming estimates for 2100 have reached a record low of 2.4°C, driven by announcements from President Biden’s Leaders Summit on Climate and other pledges since September 2020. Despite this 0.2°C improvement, current projections remain above the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C limit, and a significant gap persists between targets and the policies required to achieve them.

This research paper examines the quality of climate adaptation knowledge produced through a co-design process in Sweden, arguing that traditional knowledge quality criteria are insufficient for understanding how knowledge is actually applied by decision-makers.

This document outlines the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) framework for the WWF South Africa project 'Protecting Critical Groundwater' within the Table Mountain Water Source Areas Partnership. The approach emphasizes real-time evaluation and adaptive 'double-loop' learning to support the sustainable management of groundwater and the development of a multi-stakeholder governance model for Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs).

This document is a cover letter from the organization groundWork to the South African Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, formally lodging an appeal under Section 43(2) of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998. The appeal seeks to set aside a decision made on 31 March 2021 by the Chief Director to re-issue an environmental authorisation (number 14/12/16/3/3/2/867) to Richards Bay Gas to Power 2 (Pty) Ltd.