Agreement Establishing the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research [*]
Done at: Montevideo
Date enacted: 1992-05-13
In force: 1994-03-12
The Parties,
Recognizing that the long-term chemical, biological, and physical processes and cycles of the Earth system are undergoing continuous alteration that is both natural in origin and human-induced, in what is known as global change;
Concerned that our scientific knowledge of the earth system and our common understanding of the environmental, economic and social effects on development caused by these changes is incomplete;
Aware that global change may affect the resources vital to the condition of human beings and other species;
Considering that policy makers are in need of accurate information and sound analyses concerning the causes and the physical, social, economic and ecological impacts of global change;
Concerned that research on global issues requires cooperation among research institutes, among states and among the different parts of the Inter-American region, and with regional and international global change research programs;
Convinced that national and global efforts to address these issues must be supplemented by regional cooperation among States; and
Recalling that, in order to encourage such regional cooperation, the establishment of an Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research was initiated by the scientific community of the Americas at the 1990 White House Conference on Science and Economics Research Related to Global Change;
Have agreed as follows:
Article I
Establishment of the Institute
The Parties hereby establish the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, as a regional network of cooperating research entities, hereinafter referred to as the "Institute."
Article II
Objectives
The Institute shall pursue the principles of scientific excellence, international cooperation, and the full and open exchange of scientific information, relevant to global change. In order to do so, the objectives of the Institute are to:
a. |
Promote regional cooperation for interdisciplinary research on aspects of global change related to the sciences of the earth, ocean, atmosphere, and the environment and to social sciences, with particular attention to impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity, socio-economic impacts, and technologies and economic aspects associated with the mitigation of and adaptation to global change; |
b. |
Conduct or select for sponsorship scientific programs and projects on the basis of their regional relevance and scientific merit as determined by scientific review; |
c. |
Pursue on a regional scale that research which cannot be pursued by any individual State or institution and dedicate itself to scientific issues of regional importance; |
d. |
Improve the scientific and technical capabilities and research infrastructure of the States of the region by identifying and promoting the development of facilities for the implementation of data management and by the scientific and technical training of professionals; |
e. |
Foster standardization, collection, analysis and exchange of scientific data relevant to global change; |
f. |
Improve public awareness and provide scientific information to governments for the development of public policy relevant to global change; |
g. |
Promote cooperation among the different research institutions of the region; and |
h. |
Promote cooperation with research institutions in other regions. |
Article III
Scientific Agenda
In pursuit of the above objectives, the Institute shall have an evolving Scientific Agenda, reflecting an appropriate balance among biogeographical areas of scientific importance; an integration of scientific, economic and sociological research; and shall focus on such regional issues as the Conference of the Parties shall determine, in accordance with Articles V, VI, VII and VIII. The initial Scientific Agenda shall include:
a. |
The study of tropical ecosystems and biogeochemical cycles; |
b. |
The study of impacts of climate change on biodiversity; |
c. |
The study of El Niño Southern Oscillation and interannual climate variability; |
d. |
The study of ocean/atmosphere/land interactions in the intertropical Americas; |
e. |
Comparative studies of oceanic, coastal and estuarine processes in temperate zones; |
f. |
Comparative studies of temperate terrestrial ecosystems; and |
g. |
High latitude processes. |
Article IV
Organs
The organs of the Institute are:
a. |
The Conference of the Parties; |
b. |
The Executive Council; |
c. |
The Scientific Advisory Committee; and |
d. |
The Directorate. |
Article V
The Conference of the Parties
1. |
The Conference of the Parties shall be the principal policy-making organ of the Institute. |
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2. |
Each Party shall be a member of the Conference of the Parties. |
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3. |
The Conference of the Parties shall meet at least once every year. |
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4. |
The Conference of the Parties shall: -
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Article VI
The Executive Council
1. |
The Executive Council shall be the executive organ of the Institute. |
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2. |
The Executive Council shall be composed of up to nine members elected by the Conference of the Parties for two-year terms, taking into account the need for balanced geographic representation. |
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3. |
The Executive Council shall meet at least twice a year and shall strive to hold its meetings in different locations among the Parties. |
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4. |
The Executive Council shall:
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Article VII
The Scientific Advisory Committee
1. |
The Scientific Advisory Committee shall be the principal scientific advisory organ of the Institute. |
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2. |
The Scientific Advisory Committee shall be composed of ten members elected by the Conference of the Parties to serve in their personal capacity for three-year terms and with eligibility for a single additional term. The Conference of the Parties shall elect six Scientific Advisory Committee members from nominations received from the Parties; three from nominations received from the Scientific Advisory Committee itself; and one from nominations received from the Institute's Associates. These members shall be scientists recognized internationally for their expertise in areas relevant to the objectives of the Institute, ensuring broad subregional, regional, and worldwide representation, as well as representation from a variety of disciplines relevant to global change research. |
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3. |
The Scientific Advisory Committee shall meet as necessary and at least once a year. |
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4. |
The Scientific Advisory Committee shall:
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Article VIII
The Directorate
1. |
The Directorate shall be the primary administrative organ of the Institute. |
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2. |
The Directorate shall be composed of a Director and staff. |
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3. |
The Director shall be the highest executive officer of the Institute. |
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4. |
The Director shall be elected by a two-thirds majority of the Conference of the Parties from nominations submitted by the Parties and for a three-year term with eligibility for a single additional term. |
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5. |
The Director shall:
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6. |
The Director shall not be a citizen or permanent resident of the Party hosting the Directorate. |
Article IX
Institute Research Centers
1. |
Institute Research Centers shall be developed and designated by the Conference of the Parties only based upon proposals submitted by Parties interested in hosting such Centers in their own territory. |
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2. |
Each Institute Research Center must have a long-term commitment to a program of research within the objectives of the Institute for which the Center shall be responsible to the Institute. Each Research Center shall present its long-range plans and annual program and budget to the Conference of the Parties for its approval, based on advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee and the Institute's needs to integrate the plans and programs of all of the Centers. |
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3. |
The Institute Research Centers shall, inter alia:
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4. |
When deciding on the development or designation of an Institute Research Center, the Conference of the Parties shall take into account:
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Article X
Affiliated research institutions
1. |
An institution which submits a proposal for a specific research project, through the appropriate Party, may be designated by the Conference of the Parties as being affiliated to the Institute for the duration of the project. The Conference shall base its decision on a review of the proposal, taking into account the views of the Scientific Advisory Committee as to the scientific merit of the proposed project and its relevance to the objectives of the Institute. |
2. |
Affiliated research institutions shall be responsible to the Institute for the portion of its work sponsored by the Institute. |
Article XI
Associates of the Institute
1. |
The Conference of the Parties may invite States outside the region, regional or international intergovernmental organizations, and industries and other nongovermnental and private organizations interested in supporting the Scientific Agenda and programmatic activities of the Institute, to become Associates of the Institute. |
2. |
Associates may participate as observers in the meetings of the Conference of the Parties. |
3. |
Associates shall be entitled collectively to nominate one member of the Scientific Advisory committee, on the basis of a procedure to be agreed among them. |
4. |
Each Associate shall conclude with the Institute, through the Director, an Agreement of Association which shall specify the area or areas of the Scientific Agenda that will be supported by the Associate, and the modalities of such support. |
Article XII
National jurisdiction
Research undertaken, managed or sponsored by the Institute shall be conducted in accordance with the laws of the Parties in their respective areas of national jurisdiction and shall not be conducted against the wishes of a Party in its area of national jurisdiction.
Article XIII
Financial provisions
1. |
A budget of operational expenses for the Institute, consisting of salaries for the Directorate and basic support for the Directorate, Scientific Advisory Committee, and Executive Council, shall be supported by voluntary contributions pledged annually for a three-year period by the Parties in accordance with the interests of the Parties. Such pledges shall be in increments of US $5,000. The adoption of the annual budget shall be by consensus of the Parties. The Parties recognize that regular contributions to the operational budget are essential to the success of the Institute and that such contributions shall take into account the research resources of the contributing parties. |
2. |
Major research programs and specific projects, to be sponsored by the Institute, shall be supported from voluntary financial contributions pledged by the Parties and by the Associates of the Institute, or donated by other States outside the region, regional or international intergovernmental organizations, and industries and other nongovernmental and private organizations interested in supporting the Scientific Agenda and programmatic activities of the Institute. |
3. |
The Executive Council, with the assistance of the Director, will propose to the Conference of the Parties, for its approval, the establishment of an endowment fund which would generate income through an interest-bearing arrangement, as well as options to obtain resources through other means. |
Article XIV
Privileges, immunities and other provisions
1. |
A Party in which the Directorate is located shall accord privileges and immunities to the Director and non-national staff of the Directorate, consistent with those privileges and immunities customarily accorded to international governmental organizations, and as appropriate to allow the Director and staff to carry out their functions. |
2. |
The Party in which the Directorate is located shall enter into an appropriate host agreement with the Institute to provide for these privileges and immunities, taking into account international law. |
3. |
Each Party shall facilitate, to the maximum extent possible in accordance with its national laws and regulations, the entry into and exit from its territory of personnel properly accredited as being associated with the work of the Institute, as well as materials, and equipment related to activities conducted under this Agreement. |
Article XV
Final clauses
1. |
This Agreement shall be open for signature in Uruguay by independent States of the Inter-American region from the 13th of May, 1992 to the 12th of May, 1993. These States shall be known as Founding Parties. The Agreement shall then be open for accession with the Depository by other independent States of the Inter-American region. |
2. |
This Agreement shall enter into force sixty days after the date on which six independent States of the Inter-American region have notified the Depository, through diplomatic channels, that they have completed their corresponding domestic legal requirements. |
3. |
Amendments approved by a two-thirds vote in the Conference of the Parties, shall come into force sixty days after the date on which two-thirds of the Parties have notified the Depository, through diplomatic channels, that they have completed their corresponding domestic legal requirements. |
4. |
Any Party may withdraw from this Agreement by providing written notification through diplomatic channels to the Depository, six months in advance of the effective date of withdrawal, without prejudice to its compliance with the pending obligations to the ongoing projects. |
5. |
The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States shall be the Depository of this Agreement. |
6. |
This Agreement shall be registered by the Depository with the General Secretariat of the United Nations. |
Done in Montevideo, Uruguay on the 13th day of May, 1992, in four equally authentic original texts in the English, French, Portuguese and Spanish languages.
[*] |
Amended 1999-06-18, not in force. |