December 17, 2024

expert reaction to IPBES Nexus Assessment Report on Interlinkages Among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health

Scientists comment on the IPBES Nexus Report on Biodiversity. 

Prof John Spicer, Professor of Marine Zoology, University of Plymouth, said:

“This latest IPBES report makes clear what became painfully apparent during the COVID pandemic – that the multiple crises we face are not independent. These crises are tightly interlinked – inextricable. And as such they must be tackled together. This report concentrates on the intertwined areas of biodiversity, water food and health, and how we respond to growing threats to them – in an integrated way. Although not mentioned in the title climate change is there too. Such joined up thinking is a long time coming – and joined up thinking is here in the report and should be welcomed.  But welcoming is not enough. The question is, as ever, who is listening, and who is brave enough to act. Biodiversity loss, climate change and rising equalities across our world are all accelerating. Our response needs to do so too. Joined-up thinking must precipitate joined-up action”

Prof Tom Oliver, Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research (Environment) & Profesor of Applied Ecology, University of Reading, said:

“This is a important assessment from leading scientists around the world. Assessing how different drivers such as land use change and climate interact to present risks to our health, livelihoods, economies is crucial. We are already suffering from these ‘nature-related risks’ such as antimicrobial resistance, animal-borne disease, air pollution and food insecurity; understanding and responding to them is becoming increasingly urgent. This report and the recent announcement by the UK Chancellor that the Bank of England must consider nature-related risks is very timely. It is important to not only acknowledge and be transparent about nature related risks, but also to make sure actions to reduce exposure are nature-positive so that systemic risks do not escalate further. For example, we can reduce flooding through hard engineering solutions, which are CO2 intensive and divert water to downstream communities and sensitive habitats, or we can implement ‘nature-based solutions’ such as creating new wetlands and woodlands­­. Both reduce nature-related risks locally but one is done in a way which is genuinely nature-positive. This report is an excellent resource on how such nature-based solutions can be implemented.”

The IPBES Nexus Assessment Report on on Interlinkages Among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health was launched at 13:00 UK time on Tuesday 17^th December 2024. 

Declared interests

Prof Tom Oliver “Prof. Tom Oliver is employed by the University of Reading and has received funding from NERC, Green Finance Institute and BBSRC to develop methodologies for assessing nature-related risks.  He was previously seconded with the Government Office for Science to work with UK Cabinet Office on chronic and acute risks faced by the UK, and was seconded to Defra to help design their Systems Research Programme. He is lead educator on a Future Learn course “Using systems thinking to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis” and is author of the book “The Self Delusion: The Surprising Science of Our Connection to Each Other and the Natural World” published by Weidenfeld & Nicholson. Oliver sits on the Food Standards Agency science council and is a member of the Office for Environmental Protection expert college.”

For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.