The report of the June 2010 meeting on an intergovernmental science-policy platform for biodiversity and ecosystem services is now available. The "Busan Outcome" at the end of the report summarises the need and purpose for development of a body that will do for biodiversity what IPCC does for climate science and policy.
It says "that an intergovernmental science-policy platform for biodiversity and ecosystem services should be established 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" with a range of responsibilities:
- "the new platform should prioritize key scientific information needed for policymakers at appropriate scales and catalyse efforts to generate new knowledge by engaging in dialogue with key scientific organizations, policymakers and funding organizations, but should notdirectly undertake new research"
- undertaking assessments
- development of tools and methodologies and
- identifying capcity development needs.
For an understanding of the background and perceived need for IPBES, a gap analysis was undertaken by UNEP-WCMC and presented to the October 2009 meeting of IPBES. The summary is interesting, but the full document is worth looking through for an understanding of the biodiversity/science policy landscape - which will presumably now change as a result of the formal creation of IPBES.
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