The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) reconvened for the fourth day of deliberations in Nairobi, Kenya. The morning’s discussions focused on legal issues relating to the establishment of the platform as well as the functions and structure of possible bodies to be created. The Friends of the Chair groups on membership to the platform and the rules of procedure resumed their work during lunchtime. Much of the discussion on legal issues focused on whether the UN General Assembly had established the IPBES in its resolution 65/162, or if the current session has to decide to establish the plenary.

In the afternoon, delegates resumed discussions on the functions and structure of bodies to be created as well as deliberating on the process and elements that might be considered in selecting the host institution and the physical location of the secretariat. During the evening, delegates revisited the legal issues of establishing an IPBES, with the Secretariat providing answers to questions posed earlier in the day.

The discussions on process and criteria for selecting the host institution and physical location of the secretariat dealt with the procedures and formats for proposal submission and review to the Bureau, with some delegates highlighting issues of safety as a prejudicial criterion. The discussion on the functions and structures of bodies that could be established centered on gender and disciplinarity concerns, as well as possible functions of the chair.