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IPBES-12: What is it and why does it matter?

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Next week, Manchester will host the 12th meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), bringing together governments, scientists and observers from around the world to address the accelerating biodiversity crisis.

What is IPBES?

IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body, established in 2012, that strengthens the interface between science and policy on biodiversity and ecosystem services. It is often described as the biodiversity equivalent of the IPCC for climate change. IPBES does not conduct original research, instead it assesses and synthesises existing scientific knowledge, alongside Indigenous and local knowledge, to inform decision-making at all levels.

What does IPBES do?

IPBES provides policy-makers with authoritative assessments on the state of biodiversity, ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people. Its work includes:

  • Global, regional and thematic assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services
  • Methodological guidance on issues such as valuation, scenarios and modelling
  • Support for capacity-building and knowledge generation, particularly in the Global South
  • Identifying policy-relevant options to halt and reverse nature loss

Its landmark 2019 Global Assessment Report highlighted that around one million species are at risk of extinction, underscoring the urgent need for transformative change.

How does IPBES operate?

IPBES has over 140 member governments. Its assessments are produced by multidisciplinary expert teams, nominated by governments and organisations, and go through multiple rounds of peer review. Final summaries for policy-makers are approved line-by-line by governments, ensuring both scientific rigour and policy relevance.

Crucially, IPBES integrates natural sciences, social sciences, economics and Indigenous and local knowledge, reflecting the complex social and ecological dimensions of biodiversity loss.

How does IPBES relate to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity?

IPBES plays a key role in supporting the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) by providing the scientific evidence base needed to inform its decisions and implementation. While IPBES is independent of the CBD, it was established in response to calls from the CBD and other biodiversity-related conventions for a stronger science-policy interface.

IPBES assessments directly inform CBD processes, including the development, monitoring and review of global biodiversity targets. Most notably, IPBES evidence underpinned negotiations of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets out global goals and targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve recovery by 2050.

Why is IPBES important?

IPBES plays a vital role in ensuring that decisions affecting nature are informed by robust, interdisciplinary evidence. Its findings support international agreements such as the CBD, as well as national policy-making, land-use planning, investment decisions and conservation practice.

For ecologists and environmental managers, IPBES provides a globally recognised evidence base that strengthens the case for nature-positive decision-making across sectors.

IPBES-12 in Manchester

The 12th meeting of the IPBES Plenary (IPBES-12) will take place next week in Manchester. The meeting will focus on delivery of the IPBES work programme, including progress on upcoming assessments and strengthening the platform’s impact on policy and practice worldwide.

CIEEM welcomes the decision to host IPBES-12 in the UK and recognises the importance of this meeting for advancing evidence-based responses to the biodiversity crisis. CIEEM supports the mission of IPBES to place sound science at the heart of decisions affecting nature and people.

CIEEM will be following the meeting closely and will keep members updated on key discussions, activities and outcomes from IPBES-12.

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