It was crunch time at the 12th session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES 12). Welcoming delegates back to Working Group (WG) 1 after the previous day’s evening session, IPBES Chair David Obura enjoined them to conclude deliberations on the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment. He called for a “fast-track” approach to considering the remainder of the Background Messages of the Platform’s first fast-track Assessment.
In the end, it took the Group until the late afternoon to complete a first read-through of the Background Messages. As had been the case for other parts of the SPM, references to the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of Indigenous Peoples and local communities were contentious. Some favored underlining that businesses “must respect” or “are required to seek” FPIC, while others opposed such language as being overly prescriptive and favored “can seek.” Ultimately, delegates agreed that respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities be in accordance with national legislation.
Following informal discussions, delegates found a resolution regarding a proposed reference to citizen science. Agreement on whether to include sector-specific data on harmful subsidies remained elusive until the end of the afternoon, however. Some countries preferred not to highlight specific data on fossil fuels, agriculture, and other sectors, which others considered key to retain. Breaking for dinner, WG 1 Co-Chair Floyd Homer invited delegates to continue seeking consensus on this matter.
With the objective to finalize consideration of the SPM by the end of the day, the Group reconvened in the evening to discuss tables, figures, and the preface.
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All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For IPBES 12 please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Anastasia Rodopoulou
Working Group 1
Eeva Primmer, Co-Chair of Working Group 1
Floyd Homer, Co-Chair of Working Group 1
IPBES Chair David Obura consults with the Co-Chairs of Working Group 1 and IPBES Executive Secretary Luthando Dziba.
Jean Bruno Mikissa, Gabon
Sanne Kruid, the Netherlands
Authors of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment
Eugenia Arguedas Montezuma, Costa Rica
Muhammed Çakmak, Türkiye
Bakhtiyor Karimov, Uzbekistan
Diogo Gonçalves, Brazil
Steve Polasky, Co-Chair of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment
Marina Hernández, Dominican Republic
Delegates listen to the discussions.
Verena Klinger-Dering, Germany
Helena Freitas, Portugal
Eric Schauls, Luxembourg
Agnès Kouamé, Côte d'Ivoire
Adèle Fardoux, France
Silvia Giardina, Italy
A delegate crochets while listening to the discussions.
Delegates from Belgium
Eva Fontaine, Norway
Anne-Gaelle Ausseil, New Zealand
Liz Dunlop, Australia
The youngest delegate in the room holds the IPBES flag.
Mohlago Mokgohloa, South Africa
Matt Jones, Co-Chair of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment
Petr Antipov, Russian Federation
Juliet Blum, Switzerland
Between Sessions
Around the Venue
Corridor displays of the IPBES 12 branding bring biodiversity to life, featuring – among others – the red squirrel, oak tree, beaver, golden eagle, basking shark, common adder, large blue butterfly, capercaillie, and bumblebee.
