Institute of the Americas

Environment & Climate Change (EC2) Program: IOAs EC2 program strives to catalyze climate leadership amongst the private sector and local/regional governments in the Americas to promote sustainable growth, tackle climate change and minimize environmental impacts in the region with the goal of protecting its rich marine and land-based natural capital. In 2023, IOAs EC2 program in collaboration with its Energy program partnered with CAF-the Latin American Development Bank to host a two-day e-mobility and sustainable transportation site to San Diego for subnational leaders from Latin America. IOA began work in support of the U.S. State Departments signature subnational initiative, Cities Forward dedicated to assisting cities in Latin America and the Caribbean in creating more sustainable, inclusive and resilient futures. On a more regional level, IOA coordinated the Loreto 2050 sustainability initiative in Baja California Sur, Mexico in partnership with Eco Alianza de Loreto. IOA also launched its Un Dia Por Los Mares event in Mexico City to promote marine protected areas in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Additionally, IOA actively participated in a variety of international climate change and environmental forums, such as the Our Oceans Conference, the Cities Summit of the Americas, the UN Latin America Climate Week, and the International Bar Association annual congress. The FIL-Guadalajara, the largest book fair in the Americas, is now featuring for the second year in a row four science and science diplomacy panels developed and curated by IOAs Gulf of California Marine Program (GCMP)s dataMares.

Economic Competitiveness Program: Given changing geo-politics and the growing demand for localization of supply chains, the Institute is working to undertake research and promote dialogue to promote expanded opportunities for nearshoring in the Americas with an emphasis in North America. In 2023, IOA continued to support its North American Forum as the U.S.-Co-Coordinator with UC San Diegos School for Global Policy & Strategy and undertook research leading to the publication of two studies on nearshoring with a sub-national focus as a member of the North American Competitiveness Working Group.

Energy & Sustainability Program: With the climate imperative and increased importance of energy security, the Energy & Sustainability Program continues to serve as a crucial platform for thought-leadership. At the core of our mission, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of the Western Hemispheres most critical energy and sustainability issues. In 2023, we convened our 4th annual Madrid Energy Conference; organized a Brazil Energy Roundtable in Rio de Janeiro, and held the 32nd annual La Jolla Energy Conference in October 2023. IOA also continued to host myriad webinars and virtual discussions including periodic meetings and briefings with our Steering Committee and Non-Resident fellows. We initiated research on decarbonization in Latin America and continued to support our annual energy literacy effort: the Energy Ambassadors Program for Baja California civic leaders.