Blue Planet Prize Story

With a mission to strengthen the science-policy interface, IPBES provides information and evidence to policymakers, decision-makers, and other influential actors who can positively impact nature. It is important to note that IPBES does not offer recommendations or even suggestions to policymakers, in order to avoid any kind of prescription or advocacy. As a scientific body, IPBES must remain credible, independent, and objective to provide the most up-to-date science and evidence.

Beginning with 94 member countries at the time of its establishment, IPBES has expanded to 150 member countries as of April 2025, and growing.

Creation of Reports

IPBES provides policymakers with information and evidence through the creation of scientific assessment reports. This is one of IPBES's most crucial activities.

Representatives from member countries meet annually to discuss and determine the themes of upcoming assessments, taking into account decisions made within the CBD. Once the themes are set, IPBES selects experts to produce the reports. Supported by the IPBES secretariat, these experts volunteer their time, working on the assessments alongside their own research or professional tasks.

Each report typically takes two to three years to complete and involves the contributions of a few hundred specialists.

Nature's Contributions to People (NCP)

In its 2019 Global Assessment Report, IPBES introduced the concept of "nature's contributions to people (NCP)" as part of a comprehensive analytical and conceptual framework that encompasses ecosystem services. IPBES identified 18 categories of NCP, classified into three broad groups:

These are closely aligned with the concept of ecosystem services, which link individual service categories to human well-being. However, NCP encompasses not only positive contributions such as food provision and water purification, but also negative impacts, including predation and disease transmission.

Another distinctive feature of IPBES reports is the inclusion of indigenous and local knowledge, incorporated through dialogues with Indigenous People and local communities during the report preparation process. This approach aims to reflect diverse perspectives, knowledge systems, and values. Indigenous People and local communities often live in close connection with their environments and are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate change. Moreover, their accumulated knowledge and wisdom can offer insights that Western science may not yet have uncovered. By integrating such knowledge, IPBES reports have become richer and more comprehensive.

3. One million Species Facing Extinction Crisis!?