The EU4IPBES project supports the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in implementing its rolling work programme up to 2030.
🎯 Overall Objective and Context
The primary goal of EU4IPBES is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services to support conservation, sustainable use, long-term human well-being, and sustainable development.
The IPBES rolling work programme (up to 2030) is entirely demand-driven, based on requests from multilateral environmental agreements and governments. It is expected to inform global policy efforts, including the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, and the Paris Agreement related to climate-biodiversity links.
The work programme aims to advance the four core functions of IPBES:
- Identify and prioritize key scientific information (catalyzing new knowledge).
- Perform regular and timely assessments of knowledge.
- Support policy formulation by identifying tools and methodologies.
- Prioritize and provide support for capacity-building needs.
🗓️ Main Results (May 2022 – April 2023)
During this reporting period, progress was made in implementing all six objectives of the IPBES work programme, with several major assessments finalized and task force work progressing.
1. Assessment Progress (Objective 1)
Two key assessments were finalized in July 2022:
- Values Assessment: A methodological assessment regarding the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits.
- Wild Species Assessment: A thematic assessment of the sustainable use of wild species.
Additionally, work progressed on four other major assessments:
- Thematic assessment of invasive alien species.
- Thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food, and health (Nexus Assessment).
- Thematic assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and options for achieving the 2050 Vision (Transformative Change Assessment).
- Methodological Assessment of the Impact and Dependence of Business on Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions to People.
2. Task Force Implementation
Work progressed under five dedicated task forces to implement objectives 2, 3, and 4 of the work programme:
- Task force on capacity-building.
- Task force on knowledge and data.
- Task force on indigenous and local knowledge systems.
- Task force on policy support.
- Task force on scenarios and models.
3. Communication and Engagement
Continued implementation of the IPBES communications and stakeholder engagement strategies (Objective 5) was maintained.
📈 Expected Impact
The work programme is structured to achieve six strategic objectives by 2030, reinforcing the foundation for a sustainable future by integrating scientific knowledge into global policy:
- Assessing knowledge: Deliver the state of knowledge on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people.
- Building capacity: Improve the skills and institutional strength for a robust science-policy interface.
- Strengthening the knowledge foundations: Promote the generation and management of essential data.
- Supporting policy: Promote the development and use of relevant policy instruments and tools.
- Communicating and engaging: Increase the visibility and use of IPBES products among members and stakeholders.
- Improving the effectiveness of the Platform: Ensure regular review of IPBES’s operational efficiency.
