The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent, intergovernmental body, established in 2012, to provide evidence-based, objective, and policy-relevant information to decision makers regarding the planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems, and the benefits they provide to people. The Plenary is the governing body of IPBES and is made up of the representatives of IPBES Member States. The eighth meeting of the plenary (IPBES-8) will meet online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

IPBES-8 will consider the scoping report for a thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food, and health (nexus assessment). The session will further address the scoping report for 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 (transformative change assessment). Participants will also discuss the report of a recent workshop on biodiversity and pandemics as well as work related to the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change, and collaboration with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including the report of a relevant co-sponsored workshop on biodiversity and climate change.

Other items in IPBES-8 agenda include:

• Progress in the implementation of the IPBES rolling work programme up to 2030;
• Progress in building capacities, strengthening knowledge foundations, and supporting policy;
• Improvement of the Platform’s effectiveness;
• Institutional arrangements, including the United Nations collaborative arrangement for the work of the Platform; and
• Financial and budgetary arrangements.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in early 2021 in Marrakech, Morocco. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will take place online from 14-24 June 2021. Regional consultations will precede IPBES-8 from 7-11 June. Stakeholder Days will take place from 3-9 June. Organized by the Open-ended Network of IPBES Stakeholders (ONet), the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IIFBES), and the IPBES Secretariat, the Stakeholder Days allow for in-depth dialogue between IPBES and its stakeholder community.

Plenary sessions are expected to be held from 12:45 to 2:45 p.m. and from 3:15 to 5:15 pm (CEST (GMT+2) each day. Evening sessions will be added, if necessary.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) will provide a summary report from the Stakeholder Days and daily reports from IPBES-8, and a summary and analysis following the closure of the session.

To receive continuing coverage of this event delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the ENB Update newsletter.