In the lead up to the IPBES 12 Plenary in Manchester, the Ecosystem Services Partnership (ESP) and the Young Ecosystem Services Specialists (YESS) hosted a dedicated webinar to assist participants in their preparation.
For many early-career researchers, attending a prominent UN-style conference can be an intimidating experience. This session aimed to clarify how IPBES functions and what to anticipate within the negotiation rooms.
Agenda Overview
The webinar was divided into two segments: understanding the organization and understanding the meeting dynamics.
- Presentations by IPBES Experts from the Secretariat and ESP:
- David González presented the IPBES structure and emphasized that IPBES’s role extends beyond report writing; it provides governments with the best available science to inform decision-making. He highlighted this year’s key report, the “Business and Biodiversity Assessment.”
- Amarys Preuss discussed how stakeholders, particularly observer organizations, can engage in IPBES activities, whether through reviewing documents or participating in Stakeholder Days.
- Navigating Negotiations:
- Eliška Rolfová, the Czech Republic’s National Focal Point, outlined the meeting schedule and highlighted important items on the agenda.
- Naomi Bi and Nita Shashidharan explained the decision-making process during the plenary and the essential documents for the plenary.
- Dr. Carla-Leanne Washbourne provided practical advice for early-career researchers during the plenary and beyond it.
Recording Availability
If you were unable to attend the live session, the full recording is accessible on our YouTube channel. It offers valuable insights for first-time IPBES participants.
View the Webinar (or https://youtu.be/p5gHe3cnXME)
Acknowledgments
Our sincere thanks to all speakers and organizers.
Featured Speakers:
• Dr. Luis Inostroza – IPBES Spatial Planning Assessment Co-chair
• David González – IPBES Project Management Officer
• Amarys Preuss – IPBES Stakeholder Engagement Officer
• Eliška Rolfová – Czech Republic National Focal Point
• Naomi Bi – YESS Delegation to IPBES
• Nita Shashidharan – YESS-ONet Liaison
YESS Facilitators:
• Ehsan Pashanejad – YESS ET
• Rahul Yadav – YESS ET
• Kien Pham – YESS Focal Point