Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research
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The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research is an intergovernmental organization supported by 19 countries in the Americas dedicated to pursuing the principles of scientific excellence, sharing of environmental scientific research, international cooperation, and the open exchange of scientific information to increase the understanding of global change phenomena and their socio-economic implications. The IAI pursues the principle of scientific excellence, international cooperation and the full and open exchange of scientific information relevant to global change.
Our Mission
To develop the capacity of understanding the integrated impact of present and future global change on regional and continental environments in the Americas and to promote collaborative research and informed action at all levels.
Science Agenda
The primary objective of the IAI is to encourage research beyond the scope of national programs by advancing comparative and focused studies based on scientific issues important to the region as a whole. Our mission is defined as to develop the capacity of understanding the integrated impact of past, present and future global change on regional and continental environments in the Americas and to promote collaborative research and informed action at all levels. In its approach the IAI pursues the principles of scientific excellence, international cooperation and the full and open exchange of scientific information relevant to Global Environmental Change (GEC).
The term global change is used to refer to the interactions of biological, chemical and physical processes that regulate changes in the functioning of the Earth system, including the particular ways in which these changes are influenced by human activities.
The agreement establishing the IAI stated that the Science Agenda should be dynamic and should evolve to permanently incorporate new scientific priorities and to address changes in the needs of the region's countries. At present, four broadly defined research foci have been identified by the IAI.
These are:
I - Understanding Climate Change and Variability in the Americas
The focus of this theme is to observe, document and predict climate change and variability in the Americas and its links to changes in natural systems and societal impacts.
The goals are to understand the role of the ocean-land-atmosphere interactions in climate, to determine the key processes that cause climatic variability, from seasonal to decadal time scales, and to apply the insight gained by these findings to improve weather and climate predictions.
Topics suggested under this theme:
- Tropical Atlantic Variability (TAV), El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other forms of low-frequency climate variability.
- Ocean variability, including sudden climate change, and its influence on climate and weather of the surrounding continents.
- Variability of the American Monsoon systems.
- Ocean/Land/Atmosphere interactions and Hydrology, including atmospheric mesoscale processes.
- Global and regional changes in the water cycle.
- Aerosol impact on climate change and variability.
- Climate change at regional scales: scenarios, impacts, vulnerability and adaptation.
- Climate changes in the past.
- Development of the Americas component for a Global Observing System for climate.
II - Comparative Studies of Ecosystem, Biodiversity, Land Use and Cover, and Water Resources in the Americas
The IAI encourages comparative and integrated analyses of the effects of Global Environmental Change on natural and anthropogenic systems and processes among tropical, temperate and cold latitude systems. Sponsored work should increase our knowledge of the drivers and dynamics of variability, and the impacts of such variability on food security, biodiversity and the provision of ecological goods and services. Research is expected to include work in terrestrial, coastal and oceanic environments; and work that integrates across the land/sea interface will be encouraged.
Topics suggested under this theme:
- Impacts of global change on biodiversity, including species and genetic biodiversity—both of natural systems and agricultural systems and cultivars.
- Comparative studies of resilience of ecosystems, key species, and important agricultural cultivars to global change.
- Comparative studies of changes in land use and/or coastal/marine/freshwater resource use.
- Prediction and documentation of estuarine changes due to changes in freshwater inflows as well as changes in watershed land use and cover.
- Climate and habitat change impacts on wide-ranging species across the Americas.
III - Understanding Global Change Modulations of the Composition of the Atmosphere, Oceans and Fresh Waters
The focus of this theme is on observing, documenting and understanding processes that modify the chemical composition of the atmosphere, inland waters and oceans in a manner that affects productivity and human welfare. A multidisciplinary approach to this research area is expected.
Topics suggested under this theme:
- Effects of air pollution and rain water quality on ecosystems.
- Impact of mega-cities on regional climate.
- Regional and global air pollution: Transport and impacts.
- High latitude processes and ozone depletion.
- Comparative studies of regional air and water pollution.
- Biogeochemical processes and ecosystem hydrology.
- Greenhouse gases and their impact on climate change.
- Coastal processes and water pollution.
IV - Understanding the Human Dimensions and Policy Implications of Global Change, Climate Variability and Land Use
The focus of this theme is to research the dynamic interaction of global change, climate variability, land use and human beings – their health, welfare and activities which depend on the productivity, diversity and functioning of ecosystems. The emphasis of the research is on projects that address the complex interactions between natural and socio-economic systems through interdisciplinary approaches. The objective is to inform public policies that increase sustainability of natural systems and human welfare.
Topics suggested under this theme:
- Health and environmental issues with emphasis on vector-borne diseases.
- Increased vulnerability of human settlements due to global change, climate variability, and land use.
- Rapid urbanization and sustainability of natural and human systems.
- Changes in food production patterns; potential actions for increasing food security.
- Global environmental and economic change and biodiversity; implications for conservation strategies.
- Effects of GEC, climate variability and land use on natural disaster occurrences, mitigation strategies, and policies that limit loss of life and property.
- Impact of GEC and climate variability on fisheries and fishers; strategies for limiting socio-economic impacts.
- Identification of factors that contribute to resilience of natural ecosystems; conservation strategies to promote resilience.
- Effects of GEC, climate variability and land use on water supply, freshwater flows, and security of water for human uses.
- Participatory environmental decision-making.