Call for nominations of experts to participate in the IPBES business and biodiversity assessment

The IPBES Plenary, in decision IPBES-7/1, adopted the rolling work programme of IPBES up to 2030 (set out in annex I to the decision), which includes under its first objective a methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people (“business and biodiversity assessment”).

This assessment is aimed at categorizing how businesses depend on, and impact, biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people and at identifying criteria and indicators for measuring that dependence and impact, taking into consideration how such metrics can be integrated into other aspects of sustainability. For more information please see the scoping report for the assessment as approved by IPBES-9/1 decision located here.

In line with decision IPBES-9/1 and the procedures for the preparation of IPBES deliverables, the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel herewith invites Governments and other relevant stakeholders to nominate experts to participate in the business and biodiversity assessment.

All Governments and relevant organizations or institutions, including relevant businesses, are encouraged to submit nominations. Nominating organizations or institutions, including businesses, are not required to have been admitted to the Plenary of IPBES as an observer. Please help us to disseminate this call for nominations of experts widely, including among relevant businesses.

IPBES is seeking experts and practitioners with expertise in impacts and dependencies of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people from all relevant business and financial sectors (formal and informal), including but not limited to forestry, agriculture and food systems, marine and freshwater fisheries and other uses of wild species, water resources, recreation and tourism, pharmaceuticals, energy, infrastructure and mining.

Experts are sought from a diversity of backgrounds including academia, business and industry, Government, and civil society, and a diversity of disciplines including accounting, climatology, ecology, economics, finance, gender studies, hydrology, law, material design and engineering, public health, risk assessment, and trade. Governments and organizations are encouraged to support disciplinary, regional, gender and expertise balance through their nominations.

Please follow this procedure for nomination:

• Nominees are invited to complete the application form and attach their curriculum vitae through the dedicated web portal at https://ipbes.net/application/business-and-biodiversity-assessment (to access this page you will need to log in with your IPBES website log in credentials. Nominees not yet registered on the IPBES website will need to do so at https://ipbes.net/user/register). Please note that the nomination form is in English only and applications should be submitted in English, as the assessment process will be conducted in English;
• The nominating Government or organization (Nominator) indicated by the Nominee will receive an email with a link to the nomination form and will be invited to approve and submit the nominations in the web portal;
• Nominators and Nominees will receive a confirmation via email once the nomination has been duly submitted.

Interested experts wishing to be nominated by a Government are encouraged to contact their IPBES National Focal Point (https://www.ipbes.net/national-focal-points) regarding any country-specific processes or deadlines and are requested to fill out their application form by 1 November 2022. Interested experts are highly encouraged to review the information document summarizing IPBES assessment conditions and roles prior to submitting their application (link).

Experts that are selected for a role within an IPBES assessment accept the relevant conditions for the assessment, including the fact that the time contributed to IPBES is committed on a pro-bono basis. Experts from developing countries receive financial support to attend author meetings and possibly other relevant meetings. Selected experts of developed countries are to secure their own funding to participate in the meetings.

Nominators (Governments or organizations) are invited to approve the applications and submit their nominations by 15 November 2022. Early nominations ahead of the deadline are encouraged.