Highlights and images for 14 December 2024

A late afternoon storm in Windhoek, Namibia, fitted the developments in the negotiations at the 11th session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES 11). Delegates were unable to conclude deliberations on the thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food, and health (Nexus Assessment), and the scheduled plenary on Saturday evening to adopt its Summary for Policymakers (SPM) and approve the underlying chapters was postponed.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Despite continuous encouragement and warnings by Douglas Beard (Western European and Others Group), Co-Chair of the working group addressing the Nexus Assessment, delegates often engaged in lengthy discussions, with some of them determined to defend national interests to the final gavel. “My pep talk only lasted for five minutes,” sighed Co-Chair Beard, watching delegates getting bogged down in parts of the text that many consider of lesser importance.

Efforts to pick up the pace and conclude work in a timely manner led to an early start for delegates, who worked through lunch to make progress. An evening reception and a cultural drum performance did not take place in an effort to create additional negotiating space. Still, discussions on the assessment’s key messages only started in the evening session, with IPBES members settling in for a long evening of deliberations.

With time running out, some delegates expressed concerns about the watering down of scientific facts to keep everyone equally happy, or at least equally unhappy. They stressed that such practice diminishes the assessment’s value for policymakers.

Dramatic appeals to reach consensus on outstanding issues underscored that “the credibility of IPBES” is at stake, as IPBES Chair David Obura reminded delegates of the need to also allow adequate time for the finalization of the scoping report of the second global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services. This completion is essential for IPBES’ work to continue in the coming years as scheduled in its rolling programme of work.

At the same time, negotiations on the thematic assessment on the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, determinants of transformative change, and options for achieving the 2050 vision for biodiversity (Transformative Change Assessment) were more productive, although no less complicated or controversial, with delegates addressing background messages.

While some IPBES members expressed concerns over progress achieved, others seemed more optimistic, despite fatigue. “Don’t fear the storm, for the rainbow’s never far behind,” one noted, entering the evening session. Still, others were more pragmatic, emphasizing that a successful conclusion will require concessions and not mere wishful thinking.