IPBES 3
In the area of Biodiversity and Ecosystem services, there is an urgent need to reinforce the credibility and legitimacy of the relevant scientific knowledge, to encourage its use by the political world. With this in mind, an intergovernmental programme is envisaged, in order to strengthen the interface between science and politics. The aim is to provide the political decision-makers with good advice and scenarios, so that they can successfully combat the world crisis that is the failure of biodiversity. The third Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) meeting, which will take place in South Korea in June, will lead to either the creation or abandoning of this new programme.
The IPBES platform aims to create an interface between science and politics. Made up of worldwide renowned scientists, experts in biodiversity and ecosystems, the main (but not only) task for IPBES would be to periodically publish scientific reports giving an authoritative voice on the state and tendencies of, and threats to biodiversity and ecosystems. The aim is to provide the political decision-makers with good advice and scenarios so that they can successfully combat the world crisis that is the failure of biodiversity. Open to all governments, NGOs and Convention Secretariats, who will all be able to make their voices heard in their capacity as observers.
One essential condition for the success of this platform is getting scientists from developing countries involved, thereby ensuring the protection of their interests. IPBES would limit its mandate to coordinating activities for development capacity at this level, so as not to encroach on any existing financial arrangements.
This, the third IPBES meeting, will lead to either the creation or abandoning of this new programme. The results of these negotiations will be brought to the attention of the 65th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations for consideration and possible approval, and announced at the high-level Special Session of the Assembly General of the United Nations on the issue of Biodiversity, on 22 September 2010.
