Thematic session held as part of the 34th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI)
2 June 2026, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm (UTC – 5)
This session is organized in collaboration with the Government of Jamaica, the Government of Colombia, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), the University of the West Indies (UWI), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The event aims to facilitate a dialogue among member countries of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research and regional partners on strategic approaches to strengthening scientific cooperation in the Americas and the Caribbean, and to explore opportunities for developing collaborative infrastructures and digital climate intelligence capabilities that can support climate research, risk assessment, and evidence-based decision-making across the region.
The discussion will also consider how enhanced regional cooperation can contribute to greater scientific autonomy, promote sustainable financing for climate research, and strengthen the long-term resilience of scientific institutions and knowledge networks.
Agenda
Registration link
Description
The Americas and the Caribbean are increasingly exposed to accelerating climate risks, including intensifying hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, sea-level rise, ecosystem degradation, and growing socio-economic losses. These impacts are particularly critical for vulnerable regions, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS), where climate variability and extremes pose significant threats to sustainable development, food security, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
At the same time, the global landscape of climate science cooperation is evolving. Political shifts and declining support for multilateral climate initiatives in some countries have begun to affect the stability of international research partnerships and financing. These developments highlight the importance of strengthening regional scientific cooperation mechanisms that allow countries in the Americas and the Caribbean to sustain research capacities, enhance knowledge production, and ensure continuity in climate science collaboration.
Advances in Earth system science, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, and digital data infrastructures also offer new opportunities to transform how climate risks are monitored, understood, and managed. Leveraging these innovations through regional collaboration can contribute to more effective early warning systems, improved climate risk intelligence, and stronger science-policy interfaces.
Key topics
The session will explore themes that integrate priorities identified by IAI member countries:
- Climate Extremes and Risk Intelligence
Advancing regional capacities to understand and quantify climate hazards, including extreme events, attribution of science, and emerging systemic risks.
- Digital Climate Intelligence and Data Cooperation
Strengthening regional collaboration in climate data sharing, artificial intelligence applications, high-performance computing, and climate information platforms that support early warning systems and decision-support tools.
Across these discussions, particular emphasis will be placed on strengthening science–policy interfaces and regional governance mechanisms, as well as exploring sustainable financing pathways and enhancing regional research capacity. These cross-cutting dimensions will inform all thematic areas, supporting more integrated, actionable, and regionally coordinated approaches to climate resilience across the Americas and the Caribbean.
Expected Outcomes
The session is expected to:
- Facilitate a strategic dialogue among IAI member countries and regional institutions on priorities for strengthening climate science cooperation.
- Identify opportunities for developing shared regional scientific tools and digital climate information infrastructures.
- Highlight pathways to enhance long-term sustainability and financing of climate research in the region.
- Contribute to strengthening collaborative scientific networks across the Americas and the Caribbean.
