Work programme
IPBES rolling work programme up to 2030
The rolling work programme up to 2030 of IPBES aims to advance the achievement of the overall objective of IPBES, which is to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.
The policy framework for the 2030 work programme corresponds to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the biodiversity-related conventions and other biodiversity and ecosystem service processes.
The 2030 work programme is entirely demand-driven, based on requests received from relevant bodies under multilateral environmental agreements and Governments and inputs and suggestions received from other stakeholders. It is expected to inform all stakeholders in the implementation of their activities to support the achievement of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, as well as other work under multilateral environmental agreements related to biodiversity. The work programme may also inform the implementation of the Paris Agreement with respect to matters related to the links between biodiversity and climate change.
The goal of the work programme is the performance of the four functions of IPBES. It is guided by its operating principles.
The 2030 work programme is a rolling work programme, with a strategic and predictable timing, so as to allow research and other programming entities and strategic partners to support identified deliverables effectively. The Plenary will launch additional calls for requests, inputs and suggestions during the course of the work programme, in line with the process set out in decision IPBES-1/3, which allows for requests, inputs and suggestions to be submitted no later than six months prior to a session of the Plenary.
For information on the first IPBES work programme 2014-2018 please see here.
Work programme topics
The 2030 work programme initially focuses on three topics:
(a) Understanding the importance of biodiversity in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:
Addressing the nature of the interlinkages between biodiversity and other relevant issues reflected in the 2030 Agenda may advance the understanding of biodiversity-related impacts, dependencies, synergies and trade-offs across the Sustainable Development Goals and of options for integrated and cross-sectoral approaches to achieving the 2030 Agenda. To address this challenge, the deliverables under this topic will look, in particular, at the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health and between biodiversity and climate change, with a view to informing the development of policies and actions. Other aspects may include the role of connectivity in ensuring integrity and resilience in socioecological systems;
(b) Understanding the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity:
Achieving the 2050 Vision in conjunction with the Sustainable Development Goals can be informed by an improved understanding of fundamental changes at many levels, from individuals through communities and businesses to society at large. The deliverables related to this topic are aimed at understanding and identifying factors in human society at both the individual and collective levels, including behavioural, social, cultural, economic, institutional, technical and technological dimensions, that may be leveraged to bring about transformative change for the conservation, restoration and wise use of biodiversity, while taking into account broader social and economic goals in the context of sustainable development;
(c) Measuring business impact and dependence on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people:
Appropriate tools for measuring, assessing and monitoring the dependence and impact of the business sector on biodiversity are important for reducing adverse effects. Such tools are also important for promoting business actions contributing to the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of biodiversity and to developing the business case for long-term sustainability. They are also important for promoting public accountability, informing regulatory agencies and guiding financial investments and in influencing consumer behaviour. Deliverables under this topic include categorization of the ways in which businesses depend on, and impact, biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people, and work related to criteria and indicators for measuring this dependence and impact, taking into consideration how such metrics can be integrated into other aspects of sustainability.
Work programme objectives
The 2030 work programme includes six objectives, with one objective related to each of the four functions of IPBES, one to communications and engagement of Governments and stakeholders and one to the review of the effectiveness of IPBES. All deliverables build on knowledge gained and lessons learned in the implementation of the first work programme. The objectives are supported by deliverables addressing the three initial priority topics as well as the overall objective of IPBES.
Objective 1: assessing knowledge
To assess the state of knowledge on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people in support of sustainable development.
This objective will be achieved through the following initial deliverables, corresponding to the three priority topics:
A thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health
In support of topic 1, understanding the importance of biodiversity in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, this assessment will use a nexus approach to examine interlinkages between biodiversity and the above-mentioned issues, such as agricultural productivity, nutrition, pest control, water quality, infectious diseases, mental and physical health and climate mitigation and adaptation, with a view to providing policy-relevant and useful information to users and managers regarding the development of policies and actions in relevant sectors;
A technical paper on the interlinkage between biodiversity and climate change
The technical paper will address potential synergies such as nature-based solutions and trade-offs between efforts that aim to conserve, restore and sustainably use biodiversity and efforts that support climate change adaptation and mitigation. It will draw on the material contained in the assessment reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and IPBES;
A thematic assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity
This assessment is aimed at understanding and identifying factors in human society at both the individual and collective levels, including behavioural, social, cultural, economic, institutional, technical and technological dimensions, that can be leveraged to bring about transformative change for the conservation, restoration and wise use of biodiversity, while taking into account broader social and economic goals in the context of sustainable development. It explores the drivers of and motives behind broad societal changes and transitions to inform the design of relevant policies, communication and engagement campaigns and other actions;
A methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people
This methodological assessment is aimed at categorizing how businesses depend on, and impact, biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people and identifying criteria and indicators for measuring that dependence and impact, taking into consideration how such metrics can be integrated into other aspects of sustainability.
Objective 2: building capacity
To build capacities of individuals and institutions for a strengthened science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
The achievement of this objective is supported by the three components of the capacity-building rolling plan, which applies to ongoing and future activities of the work programme:
Enhanced learning and engagement
The objective includes the continuation of the fellowship programme and of the training and familiarization programme, including through webinars and other online resources, guides, learning materials, workshops, training and dialogues for actors in the science-policy interface facilitated by IPBES. The objective will be implemented by IPBES, in collaboration with other actors where relevant.
Facilitated access to expertise and information
The objective will further promote the uptake of the work programme objectives and deliverables and develop communities of practice around them. Efforts will focus on approved assessments and objectives and deliverables related to policy support tools and methodologies, knowledge and data, and Indigenous and local knowledge. This objective will largely be implemented by strategic partners and collaborative supporters.
Strengthened national and regional capacities
This objective includes efforts to encourage the development of science-policy platforms, networks and assessments for biodiversity and ecosystem services at the national and (sub)regional levels, such as facilitation of the development of guidance for such initiatives. Strengthening the role of national focal points is also key to enhancing national capacities in the science-policy interface. IPBES will draw strongly on the experience of strategic partners and collaborative supporters to implement this objective. Direct technical and financial support for the enhancement of national and regional capacities will be sought from strategic and relevant partners other than IPBES.
Objective 3: strengthening the knowledge foundations
To promote the generation of knowledge and management of data on biodiversity and ecosystem services as a foundation for the work of IPBES. This objective will be achieved through ongoing and future activities across the work programme, as follows:
Advanced work on knowledge and data.
This objective focuses on: identifying, prioritizing, mobilizing and facilitating access to existing knowledge, information and data, including indicators and metrics to be used in assessments; further developing a web-based infrastructure in support of open data sharing and information management; identifying gaps in knowledge and data arising from the completed deliverables of IPBES work programmes; a systematic cataloguing of knowledge and data gaps identified in the work programme; and catalysing the generation of new knowledge by making those gaps known, including to research funding agencies, research programme developers and institutions involved in prioritizing and funding data mobilization and considering them for further prioritization of deliverables in the work programme.
Enhanced recognition of and work with Indigenous and local knowledge systems
This objective focuses on implementing the approach to recognizing and working with Indigenous and local knowledge in IPBES, taking into account the special needs of Indigenous and local knowledge holders through the implementation of the participatory mechanism established under the approach, as well as taking into consideration the recommendations and findings set out in document IPBES/7/INF/8 and other relevant future IPBES processes.
Objective 4: supporting policy
To identify and promote the development and use of policy instruments, policy support tools and methodologies in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.
This objective will be achieved through ongoing and future activities across the work programme, as follows:
Advanced work on policy instruments, policy support tools and methodologies.
This objective focuses on supporting the use of policy instruments, policy support tools and methodologies in the implementation of the programme of work relevant for biodiversity conservation, restoration and sustainable use, as well as provision of ecosystem functions and services in the conduct of the assessments, and in enabling the uptake of the findings of the assessments in decision-making. This objective further focuses on developing the IPBES policy support web portal and promoting and catalysing the further development of policy instruments and policy support tools to fill gaps identified in assessments and related capacity-building activities.
Advanced work on scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.
This objective consists of providing advice to expert groups assessing the use of existing models and scenarios, and catalysing the development of new scenarios and associated models for the future work of IPBES and the application in policy development, while also promoting coherence with similar work carried out by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and other bodies, as appropriate.
Advanced work on multiple values.
This objective consists of providing advice on the integration of multiple conceptualizations of values into other deliverables of the work programme, in particular under the objectives on assessments and policy instruments, policy support tools and methodologies, and through further work building on the methodological assessment regarding the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its contributions, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.
Objective 5: communicating and engaging
To strengthen the involvement of the members and stakeholders and to increase the visibility of IPBES and the use of IPBES products.
This objective will be achieved through the following:
Strengthened communication
This objective builds on the work initiated and lessons learned during the first IPBES work programme and includes the continuation of the implementation of the IPBES communication and outreach strategy, with a view to increasing the visibility of IPBES and its products and the use of IPBES products by Governments and stakeholders.
Strengthened engagement of Governments
This objective builds on the work initiated and lessons learned during the work programme to date. IPBES will continue to engage Governments, in particular by supporting IPBES national focal points in the uptake of IPBES deliverables and the implementation of the work programme.
Strengthen engagement of stakeholders
This objective builds on the work initiated and lessons learned during the first work programme and includes the developing and strengthening of the implementation of the IPBES stakeholder engagement strategy. IPBES will continue to engage with strategic partners and other stakeholders.
Objective 6: Improving the effectiveness of the Platform
To ensure the regular internal and external review of the effectiveness of IPBES.
This objective will be achieved through the following:
Periodic review of the effectiveness of IPBES
This objective is aimed at ensuring that the outcome of the review of the first work programme informs the implementation of the rolling work programme up to 2030 and that a procedure is developed for a midterm and a final review of the rolling work programme up to 2030.
Review of the IPBES conceptual framework
This objective aims to ensure that the use and impact of the IPBES conceptual framework are reviewed to inform the evolution of the rolling work programme.
Improving the effectiveness of the assessment process
This objective aims to provide lessons learned and advice from the authors and other contributors of completed assessments to those undertaking future assessments.
Overall objective of IPBES
To strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development
Policy framework of the rolling work programme up to 2030
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals, the biodiversity-related conventions and other biodiversity and ecosystem services processes
(*) Specific deliverables to be developed by task forces