Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EU4IPBES (The European Union's Support to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)
Reporting period: 2020-11-01 to 2022-04-30
The Plenary of IPBES, in decision IPBES-7/1, adopted the rolling work programme for IPBES up to 2030.
The work programme aims to advance the achievement of the overall objective of IPBES, which is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
In line with the overall objective and with decision IPBES-5/3, the policy framework for the rolling work programme up to 2030 corresponds to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the biodiversity-related conventions and other biodiversity and ecosystem service processes.
The rolling work programme up to 2030 is entirely demand-driven, based on requests received from relevant bodies under multilateral environmental agreements and Governments and inputs and suggestions received from other stakeholders. It is expected to inform all stakeholders in the implementation of their activities to support the achievement of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, as well as other work under multilateral environmental agreements related to biodiversity. The work programme may also inform the implementation of the Paris Agreement with respect to matters related to the links between biodiversity and climate change.
The goal of the work programme is the performance of the four functions of IPBES, which are:
(a) To identify and prioritize key scientific information needed for policymakers at appropriate scales and to catalyse efforts to generate new knowledge by engaging in dialogue with key scientific organizations, policymakers and funding organizations, but not to directly undertake new research;
(b) To perform regular and timely assessments of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services and their interlinkages, which should include comprehensive global, regional and, as necessary, subregional assessments and thematic issues at appropriate scales and new topics identified by science and as decided upon by the Plenary;
(c) To support policy formulation and implementation by identifying policy-relevant tools and methodologies, such as those arising from assessments, to enable decision makers to gain access to those tools and methodologies and, where necessary, to promote and catalyse their further development;
(d) To prioritize key capacity-building needs to improve the science-policy interface at appropriate levels and then provide and call for financial and other support for the highest-priority needs related directly to its activities, as decided by the Plenary, and to catalyse financing for such capacity building activities by providing a forum with conventional and potential sources of funding.
The rolling work programme up to 2030 places strong emphasis on promoting collaboration among science, policy and practice; scientific disciplines; different types of knowledge; and the four functions of IPBES.
The rolling work programme up to 2030 is guided by the operating principles of IPBES.
In the period until 30 April 2022, the implementation of all six objectives of the IPBES work programme up to 2030 has progressed, including:
(a) Progress in the development of the three assessments which had commenced under the first work programme of IPBES:
i) A methodological assessment regarding the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services (values assessment);
ii) A thematic assessment of the sustainable use of wild species;
iii) A thematic assessment of invasive alien species;
iv) A thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health (nexus assessment);
v) A thematic assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity (transformative change assessment);
(b) Progress in the work of five task forces to implement objectives 2, 3 and 4 of the work programme, in line with their mandates set out in decision IPBES-7/1, annex II:
i) Task force on capacity-building;
ii) Task force on knowledge and data;
iii) Task force on indigenous and local knowledge systems;
iv) Task force on policy support;
v) Task force on scenarios and models;
(c) Work on communicating and engaging (objective 5 of the work programme), in particular continued implementation of the IPBES communications and stakeholder engagement strategies.
The work programme aims to advance the achievement of the overall objective of IPBES, which is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
Its objectives, which are expected to be reached by 2030, include:
Objective 1: assessing knowledge: To assess the state of knowledge on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people in support of sustainable development.
Objective 2: building capacity: To build capacities of individuals and institutions for a strengthened science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Objective 3: strengthening the knowledge foundations: To promote the generation of knowledge and management of data on biodiversity and ecosystem services as a foundation for the work of IPBES.
Objective 4: supporting policy: To identify and promote the development and use of policy instruments, policy support tools and methodologies in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.
Objective 5: communicating and engaging: To strengthen the involvement of the members and stakeholders and to increase the visibility of IPBES and the use of IPBES products.
Objective 6: Improving the effectiveness of the Platform: To ensure the regular internal and external review of the effectiveness of IPBES.