Highlights and images for 3 July 2022

The ninth session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-9) opened on Sunday in Bonn, Germany. The first day’s deliberations took place mostly in plenary, with delegates listening to opening statements, reports on progress, and introductory remarks on all items in the meeting’s agenda. The working group on the thematic assessment on the sustainable use of wild species began its deliberation in the afternoon, followed by an evening reception.

Highlights of the day include:

• The 10th anniversary of the creation of IPBES, with membership growing strong, having reached 139 members;
• Opening remarks by Chair Ana María Hernández Salgar, underscoring IPBES’ focus on intercultural and interscientific dialogues, going well beyond data generation;
• Welcoming remarks by Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Germany, who invited delegates to “send a message for peaceful coexistence and for multilateralism”; and
• The initiation of the work on the thematic assessment on the sustainable use of wild species, with many members lauding the assessment’s quality, but also pointing to necessary discussions on specific elements.

To dive deeper, read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

In opening statements, Inger Andersen, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, stressed that, going forward, IPBES needs to strike a balance between assessments and uptake in real-world decision making, and continue to take strides in interagency collaboration. Anne Larigauderie, IPBES Executive Secretary, provided an overview of achievements thus far and said achieving global development goals can be informed by IPBES assessments, including those on the interlinkages between biodiversity, water, food, and health (nexus assessment), and on transformative change. IPBES Chair Hernández, quoting Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchú, stressed that as long as poverty, racism, discrimination, and exclusion exist, it will be difficult to achieve a world of peace.

In welcoming remarks, Steffi Lemke, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Germany, highlighted the new Nature for Health Trust Fund to support the shift from nature destruction to nature restoration. Ursula Sautter, Deputy Mayor of Bonn, said biodiversity is about our societies, economies, health, and well-being, and organizations such as IPBES are showing us the way to a better understanding of, and responsible action for, halting biodiversity loss.

Regional groups stressed, inter alia: the role of the Platform as a bridge between science and policy; the need to fully understand the interlinkages between sustainable use, and the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development; and the need to enhance capacity, especially of national focal points.

Chair Hernández introduced all the items in the meeting’s agenda and two Working Groups were formed to proceed with discussions. Working Group 1, mandated to discuss the two assessments on the sustainable use of wild species and on the diverse conceptualization of nature and its benefits, began its deliberations in the afternoon discussing the sustainable use assessment. Following a presentation by the assessment’s Co-Chairs on content and structure, delegates offered general comments. Many delegates expressed contentment with the assessment’s quality, but additional discussion in the Working Group will be needed prior to the scheduled plenary approval on Thursday.

In the evening, a welcoming reception offered the opportunity for delegates and participants to mingle, and exchange ideas and knowledge ahead of a busy and important week of discussion, particularly on the two assessments under consideration.