Summary
Highlights for Tuesday, 30 April 2019
On Tuesday, IPBES-7 participants engaged in the discussions on the summary for policy makers (SPM) of the Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and discussed the response to the External Review of IPBES. In general comments on the Global Assessment, delegates asked for clear and concrete messages as well as targets that are easily understood. They also suggested including regional messages and discussed ways to streamline and clarify the use of key concepts such as ecosystem services and nature’s contributions to people. Other comments focused on ensuring that large ecosystems, such as boreal forests and freshwater ecosystems, are appropriately referenced in the SPM. Following these general exchanges, the Working Group engaged in extensive discussions on how to characterize the extent and rate of decline of specific ecosystems and how to describe the state of domesticated animals and plants. In the afternoon, a second Working Group considered how IPBES should respond to the comments received through the External Review of the Platform. Delegates debated based on a draft decision and a note prepared by IPBES Chair Robert Watson. The group initially agreed to consider a number of specific follow-up activities proposed in the Chair’s note, and began discussing the proposed development of an IPBES “vision, mission, and strategy,” but then reverted to considering only the elements contained in the draft decision. Much of the discussion focused on a perceived mismatch between the mandates of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP), the Bureau, and the Secretariat, and the proposed requests addressed to them. Delegates eventually converged on an approach for taking the recommendations made by the Review Panel into account in implementing the work programme, including by identifying solutions for consideration by IPBES. They also converged on encouraging members and observers to use the findings and recommendations contained in the report to inform their decisions and other interactions with the Platform, and in supporting the implementation of its work programme. The Secretariat will prepare a revised draft decision on this agenda item for consideration by Plenary.For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from IPBES-7. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, will publish a summary and analysis report of IPBES-7 on Tuesday, 7 May 2019.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera
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Working Group I
Working Group II
Around the Venue
