Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Since the publication of the Charter for Upgrading Journalistic Practices to Tackle the Ecological Emergency, several media outlets in France committed themselves to train their editorial staff on climate and biodiversity issues. In May 2023, IPBES and IPCC experts held a seminar to train journalists from France Télévisions on this topic.

More than 1,500 journalists have already chosen to sign the charter, accessible at www.chartejournalismeecologie.fr

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Through a series of workshops outlined in a new research paper, scientists undertook "a futures thinking process that could use the Nature Futures Framework [NFF] as a mechanism to bring more transformative energy into how humans conceptualise the high seas and therefore how we aim to govern the ocean."

Published in the July 2023 edition of the Marine Policy journal, the study found that "engaging with the future through science fiction narratives allowed a more radical appreciation of what could be and infusing science with artistic elements can inspire audiences beyond academia."

The study also references the IPBES Global Assessment (2019) and the IPBES Scoping Report for the Transformative Change Assessment. "Recognising the need for more pluralistic, transformative and positive scenarios for nature, the IPBES task force on scenarios and models developed the NFF for use in research and governance processes that require a sense of what potential futures could be possible, even the more radical," wrote the authors.

"Operationalizing the NFF in the high seas provides a key, timely case study for examining the need for transformative change, the role of envisioning futures, how transformative change can occur and the process of rolling out transformative change. This output could feed directly into the ongoing IPBES assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity," they continued.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Members of the IPBES task force on scenarios and models have provided an example of how the Nature Futures Framework can be implemented for the development of illustrative narratives representing a diversity of desirable nature futures: information that can be used to assess and develop scenarios and models whilst acknowledging the underpinning value perspectives on nature.

To explore the interdependence between narratives, and therefore their potential to be translated into scenarios and models, six narratives developed were assessed around three areas of the transformative change debate, specifically, (1) land sparing vs. land sharing, (2) Half Earth vs. Whole Earth conservation, and (3) green growth vs. post-growth economic development.

The paper concludes with an assessment of how the Nature Futures Framework could be used to assist in developing and articulating transformative pathways towards desirable nature futures.

The article is part of the Sustainability Science journal's Special Feature: Operationalizing the Nature Futures Framework to Catalyze the Development of Nature-Future Scenarios.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) IPBES Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) Member Dr. Catherine Febria, was a delegate in the 2023 edition of "Science Meets Parliament", an annual event in which scientists and national representatives engage in exchange and training sessions on the benefits of connecting decision-makers with experts.

Dr. Febria introduced the work of IPBES as a global science-policy interface and the role of the scientific community can play to support policy-makers.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) UK Scientists from Extinction Rebellion advocate for biodiversity action based on the findings of the IPBES Global Assessment Report, which revealed that 1 million species are at risk of extinction, during a four-day protest march co-organised by 200 environmental and social justice groups in front of the UK Parliament.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Ekimetrics, a French company specialising in artificial intelligence and data management, recently unveiled "Climate Q&A", an AI that uses the same principle as ChatGPT but to answer questions about the climate or the environment based on scientific reports such as those of the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and IPBES.

Climate Q&A aims to make scientific reports on climate issues accessible. Moreover, the IPCC reports, but also those of the International Energy Agency, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) are among the documents integrated into the AI for its research. Ekimetrics replied to an IPBES query that that do plan to add other existing and to-be-published IPBES Reports to the database in future.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The G7 Ministers of Climate, Energy and the Environment met on from the 15th to 16th April 2023 in Sapporo, Japan, and issued a communiqué covering a wide range of topics and commitments agreed on during the gathering. In the communiqué, the G7 pledged species protection, including addressing the issue of invasive alien species (IAS), noting that this was identified as one of the five direct drivers of global biodiversity loss in the IPBES Global Assessment Report.

The communiqué states: "Invasive alien species: Invasive alien species (IAS) are identified as one of the five direct drivers of global biodiversity loss in the IPBES Global Assessment Report, and their negative impact has been intensifying globally. In order to accelerate the implementation of the Target 6 of the GBF, we will act upon the key findings and useful scientific information to be provided by the IPBES invasive alien species assessment report to be finalized at IPBES-10."

"Recognizing the need for enhanced international cooperation to cope with increasing intentional and unintentional transport of IAS across borders, we will hold the G7 workshop on IAS to discuss necessary measures, including information sharing at national and subnational levels, technology development, and private sector engagement, and develop a set of recommendations," the communiqué continued.

In their statement, the ministers also acknowledged "the vital role of science in identifying solutions... to understand the changes taking place in our climate and environment and to urgently reverse negative trend." They welcomed the contributions of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), among others, and called for "continued collaboration and interaction among these scientific communities."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) In an article published in PLOS Climate, a team of researchers highlight the limitations of a market-based approach to Nature Based Solutions and propose a paradigm shift opening to other values of nature as defined in the IPBES Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature Assessment.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) In 2016, the Nordic Council of Ministers took the initiative to update the scientific foundation for national nutrient recommendations and dietary guidelines in Nordic and Baltic countries. A draft of the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) 2023 was developed and launched for public consultation on 31 March 2023.

In accordance with its scope and mandate, the report assessed the environmental effects of foods and food groups. It states: "The sixth assessment reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (141, 142) and the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (143) (IPBES) are pillars in the evaluation of environmental impact of food consumption in NNR2023."

The NNR project is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers (NCM) and the food and health authorities in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, and Norway. As associated members of the Nordic Council of Ministers, health authorities from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were invited to participate in the NNR Committee with one observer each.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Research published in the South African Journal of Science (March 2023) builds on the recent findings of the IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment Report to examine the national implications of the assessment for South Africa, also drawing on insights from local contributing authors. In drawing these links, the researchers make the point that South Africa is a megadiverse country with a population that relies extensively on the use of wild species for food, energy, medicine, and income, amongst many other purposes. They also argue that the IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species assessment provides impetus for placing biodiversity at the centre of sustainable development in South African policy.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) South African researchers use the findings and key messages from the IPBES Sustainable Use of Wild Species Assessment Report to draw implications for South African approaches tosustainability. The article published in the South African Journal of Science argues that preventing biodiversity loss holds benefits for development and livelihoods, despite policy implementation constraints.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) First year undergraduate communications students from ISCPA, a French school of journalism, communications, and cultural & artistic production, based at campuses in Paris, Lyon and Toulouse, were assigned for 24 hours to work on the creation of posters to promote findings from the IPBES Global Assessment Report on biodiversity issues. Working with 'Pour un Réveil Écologique' who did a '10 key points summary (IPBES)' which was also reviewed by Prof. Paul Leadley, one of the authors of the Report. he initiative was inspired by the need to raise awareness about biodiversity issues and to promote the findings of the IPBES Report, with the winner's design to be used in a bus shelter placement.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Through a case study of a rural landscape in northeastern Japan, researchers have developed a protocol with three specifications for operationalizing the IPBES Nature Futures Framework (NFF) in a landscape scenario analysis using a multi-objective optimization framework composed of: (1) exploring nature-positive futures, (2) seeking alternative pathways for targets satisfying visions of plural values, and (3) screening key direct drivers to achieve the targets.

This study modeled the NFF-based scenarios by applying the concept of multi-objective optimization and a landscape change model to explore desirable futures, seek targets in the NFF state space, and screen response options for reaching these targets in the Bekambeushi River watershed in northeastern Japan.

The protocol identified multiple, but few nature-positive and Pareto optimal strategies that satisfied NFF visions; nature-positive, but not Pareto optimal strategies; and non-nature-positive strategies. The protocol also identified key response options to achieve three different NFF value perspectives in the case study area: (1) clear or selective cutting in forestry and (2) solar PV installation on abandoned pastureland in agriculture and energy sectors.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) United Nations Secretary General António Guterres quoted IPBES science to commemorate World Wildlife Day on 3 March 2023. On his official Twitter account, Mr. Guterres wrote: "1 million species are on the brink of extinction due to human activity. We have the tools & knowledge to end this war on nature. On #WorldWildlifeDay & every day, let's do our part to preserve natural habitats & build a thriving future for all living beings."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Aremnia is currently in the process of developing and adopting its National Biodivrsity Strategy and Action Plan 2024-2033. According to Dr. Levon Aghasyan, the IPBES National Focal Point for Armenia, and Legal Advisor to the Minister of Environment, the NBSAP draws direclty on a number of published IPBES Assessment Reports, especially the Regional Assessment Report for Europe and Central Asia.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new perspective paper published in the journal Biological Conversation proposes a scenario titled “Rights for Life” to achieve biodiversity targets "in a socially-equitable ways by focusing on the Nature's and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) rights."

Building on the IPBES Nature Futures Framework, the authors "contribute to understanding of governance aspects in positive nature-based future scenarios by considering what kinds of governance approaches could be used to achieve the 'Rights for Life' scenario in a way that is able to balance between the value perspectives of 'Nature for Nature', 'Nature for Society', and 'Nature as Culture'."

Also citing the IPBES Global Assessment and preliminary work for the IPBES Values Assessment, the authors note that "IPBES (2019) has recognized the need to enhance social equity for IPLCs, and that among the local indicators developed and used by indigenous peoples and local communities, 72 % show negative trends in nature that underpin local livelihoods and human well-being."

The authors recommend linking to future policy-relevant scenario exercises conducted by applying the Nature Futures Framework and the three value perspectives, as well as recognizing IPLCs' and Nature's rights explicitly in policies and laws to enable transformation towards sustainability.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers conducted a study using the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) definition of rangeland degradation as "persistent loss of vegetation productivity cover, especially of those plants which support herbivores."

The scientists aimed to identify whether degradation results from a loss of resistance to environmental shocks, or loss of recovery, in an area consisting of 30,300 km2 of the Tarangire-Manyara ecosystem and Maasai Steppe of northern Tanzania.

Quoting IPBES, researchers stated that "rangeland degradation has been defined as a long-term decline in productivity resulting in rangelands unsuitable for grazing (IPBES19), rather than short-term declines driven by temporal variability of environmental conditions (e.g. rainfall, grazing pressure)."

Researchers found "locations that ended up the most degraded tended to decline in condition more during years of widespread degradation but maintained their recovery potential. These results suggest that resilience in rangelands is lost through declines in resistance, rather than loss of recovery potential."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new paper drawing on IPBES science, particularly the IPBES Values Assessment and the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment, examines approaches to improve sustainable management outcomes of intact ecosystems at scale, reviewing tropical peatlands to explore the potential of multifunctional ‘scape approaches. tThe authors argue that only transformative change, which involves a fundamental, system-wide reorganization, can reverse biodiversity loss and meet globally agreed development goals.

The article recommends further work to deepen understanding of the multidimensional ‘value’ of nature, strengthen governance frameworks, empower indigenous peoples, align nature-positive and climate-positive goals, and mobilize business and financial support to achieve sustainable ecosystem management.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The DRYvER project held its first local stakeholders workshop in the Genal River (Spain), operationalizing the IPBES Nature Futures Framework to develop pathways for a sustainable future for the river, in light of three perspectives: nature for nature, people, and culture. Called "Genal River Research and Climate Change", 25 residents of the Genal Valley participated in the workshop to explore their perceptions of the river and how they relate to it. The session was also dedicated to identifying wishes for the future of the entire Genal Valley. During the workshop, participants from different sectors, including industry as well as private citizens, did an excursion to the sampling sites of the Genal River to learn how to sample biodiversity.

Financed by the European Union Horizon 2020 project, DRYvER (Securing biodiversity, functional integrity and ecosystem services in DRYing riVER networks) consists of multidisciplinary teams of 25 experts from 11 countries in Europe, South America, China and the USA, building on EU efforts to investigate how climate change has cascading impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem functions and ecosystem services of DRNs (drying river networks). DRYvER aims to collect, analyse and model data from nine drying river networks (DRN) in Europe and South America to create a novel global meta-system approach that incorporates hydrology, socio-economics, ecology and biogeochemistry in order to craft strategies, tools and recommendations for adaptive management of river networks.

DRYvER also seeks to expand previous IPBES assessment reports (Methodological assessment report on scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services; Thematic assessment on land degradation and restoration; EU and Central Asia Regional assessment) by including river networks facing climate change. It also aims to provide inputs to more recent thematic assessment on sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity, and the upcoming thematic assessment on invasive alien species and their control.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A large activist 'March for Biodiversity and Human Rights' took place on 10 December 2022 in Montreal, Canada, to mobilise organisations and citizens advocating for biodiversity protection in the context of the CBD COP15, along with local and international allies. The organisers highlighted data from IPBES, among other organisations, such as: 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) An International Conference on the Underlying Causes of Biodiversity Loss was organized by the 'Collectif COP15', a collective of Quebec civil society organizations under the leadership of SNAP Quebec, in response to the repeated calls by IPBES and the IPCC for urgent systemic changes to the shared underlying causes of the two major interrelated environmental crises: biodiversity loss and climate change. The organizers welcome the progress made during the conference in identifying solutions. The 'Montreal Call' is an invitation to continue this reflection and accelerate it at future COPs, with biodiversity and climate considerations combined.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) An immersive video installation was created by the Campaign for Nature and National Geographic during CBD COP15 in Montreal Canada, using (inter alia) text from the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment to help highlight the urgent need for biodiversity protection around the world.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Diego, California, USA have voted in favor of a resolution calling for better protection of and access to the county’s open spaces in support of biodiversity. The resolution “builds on several community partnerships and initiatives maintained by the county that prioritize the preservation of the region’s natural spaces” and also on IPBES data, such as the fact that the planet is experiencing a biodiversity crisis, with more than 1 million species of plants and animals threatened by extinction.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) An article published by global business consulting group BSR uses findings from the IPBES Global Assessment to advocate that the corporate sector should better understands biodiversity and the impact of business on nature, and how this is factored into decision-making. The articles uses IPBES evidence to back up the idea that the impact of biodiversity loss is such that it is estimated that the world’s current trajectory will undermine progress toward 80 percent of the SDGs, impacting the ability to meet goals addressing poverty, hunger, health, water, cities, climate, oceans, and land.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new project, called NAVIGATE (Understanding NAture’s multiple Values for InteGrATion into dEcisions), is one of the seven major new studies highlighted in the journal Science, that will help to understand the economic benefits of biodiversity. NAVIGATE will be led by Prof. Mike Christie, Aberystwyth University and will use the approach to inclusive valuation of nature developed in the recent IPBES Values Assessment to assess four areas of the UK, Finland and Tanzania, as test cases.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) More than 10,000 adverts on public transport in London have been replaced by posters carrying messages on the climate and ecological emergency by members of Extinction Rebellion - including messages about 1 million species at risk of extinction from the IPBES Global Assessment.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Based in part on IPBES key messages in the Global Assessment about the imortance of post-growth transitions, a new European research project aims to explore pathways towards a post-growth economy. The project, named "A Post-Growth Deal" (REAL), involves a consortium of researchers from various European universities and institutions. The project aims to develop new economic models that prioritize sustainability and well-being over economic growth.

The project will involve interdisciplinary research and collaboration with stakeholders from various sectors. The current economic system is unsustainable and that there is a need for a new economic model that promotes social and environmental sustainability. The REAL project aims to contribute to this goal by developing a framework for a post-growth economy.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The European Parliament adopted a new Resolution (2022/2681(RSP)) on the EU strategic objectives for the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES COP 19). The Resolution makes extensive use of IPBES findings from the Global Assessment and the IPBES Workshop Report on Biodiversity and Pandemics.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) IPBES and IPCC were selected to receive the 2022 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, from a field of 116 nominations, from more than 40 countries.

This news was announced in Lisbon, Portugal, on Thursday (13 October) by Dr. Angela Merkel, the former Chancellor of Germany, in her capacity as President of the Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity jury.

In making their selection, the Jury highlighted how the selection recognizes “the role of science on the front line of tackling climate change and the loss of biodiversity.” “Evidence based science”, the Jury considered, “has been fundamental not only to advancing many of the political and public actions but also the need to attribute the ‘nature of urgency’ to the ways in which the political agenda approaches the question of combatting the climate crisis”. The prize includes an award of 1 million euro to be shared between the two organizations.

Speaking about the award, IPBES Executive Secretary Anne Larigauderie said: "The decision to award the 2022 Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity to both IPBES and IPCC is also a powerful statement confirming that the global loss of species, destruction of ecosystems and degradation of nature’s contributions to people together represent a crisis not only of similar magnitude to that of climate change, but one which must be addressed with at least similar urgency. The unified message from both of our expert communities is that either we tackle and solve the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis together – or we will fail on both fronts."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Ireland's first-ever national Childen and Young People's Assembly on Biodiversity Loss has been taking place for some of the country's youngest citizens to talk about how to better protect and restore biodiversity in Ireland. Aged 7-17, the children and young people are meeting in two weekend workshops to participate in biodiversity-themed discussions, nature trails and problem-solving brainstorming sessions.

Although focused on national issues of nature loss, organiser Diarmuid Torney said: "The work of IPBES has informed our planning for the assembly in important ways. Probably the most important way in which we have drawn on IPBES findings is that we have divided the group of 35 assembly members into five thematic groups, each of which has been allocated one of the five key direct drivers of biodiversity loss as identified in the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report." The finding of one million species of plants and animals at risk of extinction has also provided a global context to the discussions.