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Frank Wugt Larsen, EEA expert on biodiversity knowledge and networks, is part of the European Union delegation at the plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in Windhoek, Namibia, 10-16 December 2024. We interviewed him to understand what IPBES does and how this work relates to other international efforts to improve the state of nature.
What is IPBES and what is happening now in Namibia?
In short, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body that provides decision-makers with the most comprehensive scientific information on biodiversity.
The 11th IPBES Plenary is taking place in Windhoek, Namibia, with representatives from around 130 countries.
The main focus is on negotiating the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) of two major reports: the Nexus Assessment and the Transformative Change Assessment, and the scoping report for the IPBES 2nd Global Assessment — to be published in 2028.
Frank Wugt Larsen
EEA expert on biodiversity
How do you contribute to IPBES and UN Biodiversity work?
For IPBES, the EEA contributes to the review of scoping reports and assessments during their development. At IPBES-11, I am part of the European Union delegation, working alongside the European Commission Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and the Directorate-General for Environment. My specific role involves contributing to the negotiations of the SPM for the Nexus Assessment and the scoping report for the 2nd Global Assessment.
For the UN Biodiversity work, the EEA usually participates in the EU delegation at Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP) meetings and their preparatory sessions, supporting negotiations on technical and scientific issues, in particular the monitoring framework.
What are the key issues being discussed? Are they different from nature issues in Europe?
At IPBES-11, key discussions focus on the interconnections between biodiversity loss and water, food, health, and climate change (as highlighted in the Nexus Report). Another central theme is the need for transformative change to address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss (Transformative Change Assessment). These topics align well with developments in Europe and the EEA’s work. For example, under the European Green Deal, there is growing recognition of the interconnected nature of environmental problems and the need for holistic responses.
Similarly, the emphasis on addressing the root causes of biodiversity loss and fostering transformative change resonates with the EEA’s focus on sustainability transitions. However, since these discussions are global, North-South issues often arise, reflecting the differing challenges and priorities of various regions.
Global cooperation is essential because biodiversity loss transcends national borders and requires collective action to address its complex and interconnected drivers.
What are your personal impressions from the conference?
It is great to be back at the IPBES plenary. I attended the first plenary (IPBES-1) back in 2012 as one of my first missions for the EEA, and it is inspiring to see how IPBES has evolved and producing comprehensive and relevant landmark assessments involving contributions from thousands of scientists.
The negotiations have here at the start, however, been surprisingly political — more akin to UN Biodiversity negotiations. This is unusual, as IPBES discussions are typically less politically charged. Nonetheless, it has been a positive experience to reconnect with familiar faces and collaborate with the EU delegation team and other colleagues.
How does the IPBES work relate to the UN Biodiversity conferences?
IPBES reports are based on input from thousands of experts and are regarded as the most authoritative source of information on biodiversity science. These reports undergo extensive review by experts and governments to ensure the highest standards of quality and policy relevance. As such, they play a critical role in informing the UN’s biodiversity negotiations. For example, IPBES assessments have provided the evidence base for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), shaping the global response to the biodiversity crisis.
How does IPBES and UN Biodiversity COP contribute to improving the state of nature?
While IPBES provides the scientific evidence base — similar to how the IPCC does for climate change, the UN Biodiversity COP sets the political goals and targets for countries to implement, such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — paralleling the Paris Agreement for climate change.
Why is global cooperation on biodiversity important?
Humanity is facing a biodiversity crisis, with the loss of biodiversity undermining human well-being, the health of the planet, and economic prosperity for all. Global cooperation is essential because biodiversity loss transcends national borders and requires collective action to address its complex and interconnected drivers. For example, actions in one region can have cascading impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems elsewhere.
Moreover, the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis are deeply interconnected, requiring integrated solutions to safeguard both people and the planet.
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