Report on the outcomes of the IPBES-2 meeting by our team
Second plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-2), 9-14 December 2013
Background and History
Emerging from the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment follow-up processes, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was established in April 2012 in Panama to protect the planet’s biodiversity, its ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity. It provides a mechanism that should enable both the scientific and policy communities to synthesize, review, assess and critically evaluate relevant information and knowledge generated worldwide by governments, academia, scientific organizations, non-governmental organizations and indigenous communities. By doing so, it aims to strengthen capacity for the effective use of science in decision-making at all levels. The Platform focuses on four areas of work (Busan Outcome):
- To identify and prioritise key scientific information needed for policymakers and to catalyse efforts to generate new knowledge;
- To perform regular and timely assessments of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services and their linkages;
- To support policy formulation and implementation by identifying policy-relevant tools and methodologies; and
- To prioritise key capacity building needs to improve the science-policy interface, and to provide and call for financial and other support for the highest-priority needs related directly to its activities
Centering on these key tasks, the Platform aims at a strong collaboration with existing initiatives on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), United Nations bodies and networks of scientists and all knowledge holders (including indigenous peoples and local communities), to fill gaps and build upon their work, while avoiding duplication. It also strives to be scientifically independent and ensure credibility, relevance and legitimacy through peer review of its work and transparency in its decision-making processes. As such, it hopes to gain similar global scientific authority and policy influences for biodiversity to what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has for climate change.
The first session of the Plenary (IPBES-1) met from 21-26 January 2013 in Bonn, Germany (report). Delegates elected the IPBES Chair, the Bureau and the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP); adopted an initial budget; and agreed on steps towards the development of an initial IPBES work programme, 2014-2018. Other issues that were discussed but remained unresolved included the rules of procedures on the admission of observers, among others.
Major results of IPBES-2
Around 400 delegates from over 100 governments, scientific organizations, civil society and the private sector, attended the plenary.Concrete achievements included the adoption of the IPBES institutional arrangements between FAO, UNDP, UNEP and UNESCO; the IPBES conceptual framework; several items in the rules and procedures for the Platform’s operation (including the regional structure of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel, and MEP member selection), and the work programme 2014-2018 including a fast-track thematic assessment on “Pollination and pollinators associated with food production”, and a fast-track methodological assessment on “Models and scenarios for biodiversity and ecosystem services”. The Plenary also approved the initiation of scoping for a methodological assessment on the “conceptualization of values of biodiversity and nature’s benefits to people and development of a preliminary guide”; a thematic assessment of “land degradation and restoration”; a thematic assessment of “invasive alien species”; and a thematic assessment of “sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity and strengthening capacities and tools”.
The IPBES Member Governments (currently 115) demonstrated strong commitment to its implementation by already pledging more than half (US$ 25.4 million) of the total US$ 43.5 million required for the implementation of its 2014-2018 work plan, in what will be remembered as the "Antalya consensus". Delegates, on the other hand, did not finalise the procedures for the preparation of the Platform’s deliverables, the Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, and Strategic Partnership Arrangement. Several issues in the Rules of Procedures also remain unresolved, such as the admission of observers. These issues will be addressed in the intersessional period and at IPBES-3, tentatively scheduled for January 2015 in Bonn, Germany.
French national, Anne Larigauderie, formerly Executive Director of DIVERSITAS and Head of Science in Society at the International Council for Science (ICSU) has been appointed as the Head of the IPBES Secretariat in Bonn, Germany.
IPBES-2 stakeholder days, 7-8 December 2013
"Stakeholder Days" have been organized in advance of IPBES Plenary meetings as opportunities for a wide range of interested organizations to get updates on the IPBES process and to discuss their engagement in IPBES through informal exchange of views on specific aspects of the plenary meetings agendas. The discussions in Antalya focused on the development of potential concreate actions to implement the draft Stakeholder Engagement Strategy. In addition, participants agreed on recommendations for a joint statement on the main items to be discussed at IPBES-2 (see summaries of Day1 and Day 2). ICSU, IUCN, Nefo, and the Belgium Biodiversity Platform also organised a side event "How to engage stakeholders in support of IPBES" (flyer), which was attended by 90 participants and led to lively discussions.
Judging from the inclusion of references to indigenous and local communities in key decisions as well as the creation of task forces for indigenous and local knowledge, and capacity building, it is clear that IPBES places great importance on stakeholder participation and engagement. There were mixed feelings, however, among some IPBES-2 participants as to whether a sufficient degree of stakeholder engagement is likely to occur since the Plenary failed to complete its work on the stakeholder engagement strategy.
IPBES in Belgium
With Belgium as full founding member, IPBES will clearly impact on Belgian scientist and policy makers, and vice versa. The Belgian community will be invited to provide advice on key scientific information on biodiversity, ecosystem services and emerging issues; and to involve in the assessments, capacity building, and development of policy tools and methodologies. Being a science-policy interface and acting as an efficient information and communication hub, the Belgian Biodiversity Platform will take the leading role in coordinating IPBES-related tasks. The Belgian Biodiversity Platform has been involved in IPBES negotiations since the very beginning at the “Biodiversity Science and Governance” meeting in Paris, France, in 2005. Our organisation coordinates the Belgian scientific network in support of the IPBES work, through the Community of Practice on Ecosystem services (BEES), and represents Belgium at IPBES meetings.
References:
Summary of the second session of the plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: 9-14 December 2013. Earth Negotiations Bulletin, iisd reporting services: http://www.iisd.ca/ipbes/ipbes2/
Diversitas at IPBES: http://www.diversitas-international.org/resources/diversitas-at-ipbes-2