IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature

The IPBES establishment process arose from the bringing together of two separate but thematically-related initiatives – the International Mechanism Of Scientific Expertise on Biodiversity (IMoSEB) consultation (which finished in November 2007) and the various ongoing follow-up processes to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA), including the growing number of sub-global assessment initiatives underway.

Click here for more information on the background of the IPBES process.

In order to advance the IPBES process, countries requested UNEP to carry out a “gap analysis” to analyze the efficiency of the existing mechanisms and identify the gaps. Click here to download the Gap Analysis report. This is one of the main documents for the negotiation on the establishment of IPBES. To access other documents, visit the official website of IPBES. 

The gap analysis identified 5 main needs for strengthening the science-policy interface:

• Scientific independence
• Knowledge generation
• Knowledge assessment
• Knowledge use
• Capacity building

Three meetings and regional consultations took place to negotiate the establishment of IPBES.

At the 1st Intergovernmental and Multistakeholder meeting on IPBES in Malaysia, in November 2008, there participants generally agreeded that there was a genuine need to strengthen the science-policy interface.

At the 2nd Intergovernmental and Multistakeholder meeting on IPBES in Nairobi, Kenya in October 2009, participants had in-depth discussion on the possible governance structure and the role of a potential new mechanism.

In preparation for the third IPBES meeting, UNEP organized regional consultative meetings:

• In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), at the Forum of Environment Ministers of LAC, Panama, 26-30 April 2010.
• In Africa, just before the SBSTTA meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, 7-8 May 2010.
• In Eastern Europe, in Geneva, Switzerland, 25-26 May 2010.
• In Central Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 19-20 May 2010.
• Permanent Representatives in New York, USA, 23 April 2010.
• In North America, 27 April 2010.
• Committee of Permanent Representatives in Nairobi, Kenya: IPBES was included as an agenda item at the CPR meeting, 4 April 2010.

Find more information on the outcomes of the regional consultations here.

The 3rd and final Intergovernmental and Multistakeholder meeting on IPBES was held in Busan, Republic of Korea, 7-11 June 2010. During this meeting, governments agreed to establish a new mechanism for strengthening and improving existing science-policy interfaces. The main issues negotiated at the 3rd meeting on IPBES included:

• Do we need a new mechanism for strengthening the science-policy interface ?
• If so, what should be the scope of IPBES?
• What would be the key functions of IPBES?
• What would be the legal basis and governance structure of IPBES?
• What would the IPBES secretariat look like?
• How would IPBES be funded?

The outcomes for the 3rd IPBES meeting are available here.

The 65th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, held in New York on Spetember 2010, has considered with key partners the modalities and arrangements to fully operationalize IPBES at the earliest opportunity.

The twenty-sixth session of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum was held  on 21-24 February 2011, in Nairobi, Kenya. To download the proceedings, click here.

UNEP is cooperating with UNESCO, FAO, UNDP and other organisations for a plenary meeting to fully operationalize IPBES. The first session of the plenary was held on 3-7 October 2011, in Nairobi, Kenya. The intersessional process included work in between sessions to prepare for the second session of the plenary. The second session of the plenary was held in Panama City, Panama, from 16-21 April 2012.

Official meeting documents and reports:

• Click here to access the detailed information on all meetings 

IISD web coverage of the following meetings:

• 2nd Plenary Session to build IPBES - Panama City, Panama, from 16-21 April 2012
• 1st Plenary Session to build IPBES - Nairobi, Kenya, October 2011
• 3rd negotiating meeting - Busan, Republic of Korea, June 2010
• 2nd negotiating meeting - Nairobi, Kenya, October 2009
• 1st negotiating meeting - Putrajaya, Malaysia, November 2008