North America and the United States share natural resources including water and energy. They also have a Carbon Cycle, Climate Change Program respectively (North American Carbon, Climate Programs). Todate there is no plan to address these issues as a regional agenda that would link water, energy and climate change - to quantify the resources, assess social and economic imacts, and analyze political issues, as well as potential actions that are deemed palatable by public and private stakeholders to mitigate and adapt to climate change. While some aspects of the programs are relevant to the Americas, many of the topics are also applicable to the world at large, and hence participants from all over the world are encouraged.

This Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute will address the above problem through a series of lectures by experts in their field, as well as group discussions and smaller working groups that will report back to the larger group on focus areas they are tasked with. Initially, the problem will be approached using multiple groups (multiple participants per group) making up a matrix with which to approach the task at hand. The final product that the group as a whole is expected to produce is a white paper on Global Climate Change in the Americas: Synthesis, Integration and Assessment (suggested title, but more important, descriptive of the overarching desired content). A daily schedule of events (lectures, large group and small group meetings) has been provided, major groups that will form the matrix with which to approach the diversity of the task at hand and a list of suggested factors and issues that should be covered by the matrices/groups. The larger group may choose to add or subtract from the list. The composition, topics and task of the breakout groups may change throughout the duration of the institute depending on the needs of the larger group to accomplish their ultimate goal. It is desired that the white paper will fulfill the need of a road map to developing a climate change program in the Americas along the lines of the chapters/steps given below. Specifically, a new initiative should be outlined and or recommended. While this initiative should focus on research, it should be such that it addresses the unique needs of the Americas and those who live and work within the larger area.

To the degree possible, published results from global (or continental) models will be provided to determine predicted changes in precipitation, temperature (mean, maximum, and minimum), water stress, wind and sea level rise and remote sensing products. On-line libraries and access to journal articles will be provided at the Institute. In addition, each group will be assigned a mentor - from the pool of guest lecturers - to aid in the planning and development of the discussions and white papers.

It will be important the participants periodically check this web site for updates on web resources available for use throughout the institute.

Whitepaper roadmap (tentative)

Within the broad topic of energy, water, and global change, there will be a focus on five major research themes, each with tentative subtopics that will help introduce the overlap within these disciplines.

The research themes are:

i)	Overview State of the problem and ongoing research agendas merging energy, water, and climate change Defining sustainability for water, energy, and the environment as a comprehensive project Definitions and metrics combining energy, water, and global change - cost of water and emissions on a per kWh basis
ii)	Sustainable energy supply in the Americas, strategic solutions and relevance Transnational grids and inter-American energy market Energy use projections for water treatment and distribution Viable regional solutions to replace the use of biofuel for transportation, inter-American biofuel and ethanol market Technical and engineering issues that form a common platform for collaboration Energy Efficiency, technology exchange, energy policies, and mutual interests in the Americas The impact of energy policies and upcoming technologies on water supply
iii)	Water supply in the Americas, cross border issues and sustainability Primary water withdrawals and water use projections for power generation Advanced water treatment, detection, recovery, and reuse technologies Cross border and international challenges of water, viable regional solutions to water supply Consequences of ethanol production on water and food supply Technical and engineering challenges to desalination The balance of biofuel: lifecycle water use for ethanol Policies and the political dynamics of water distribution in the Americas
iv)	Climate and Climate Feedbacks Climate feedbacks and energy balance Climate feedbacks and regional water stress Climate models, energy balance, and water cycle International treaties on climate change, policies, and global impact analyses
v)	Linking Energy, water, and global change studies Current and future research measures combining energy, water, and global change, targeting future needs as pan-American solutions Collaboration on critical resource planning System-based natural resource policies and regulations for the Americas Energy, water, and environmental infrastructure synergies Guidelines and framework for development of regional requirements Policy coordination, economic basis, and information exchange Informatics, regional and interdisciplinary data integration