“I hope the IPBES report can be a tool”
The latest IPBES report brings up obstacles and challenges involved in halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity, combating climate change, and reducing pollution. Photo: Getty
Hi there Wijnand Boonstra, Professor of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development at the Department of Earth Sciences, as well as one of the members of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Wijnand Boonstra, Professor of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt.
You and close to 200 researchers worked on the “IPBES Transformative Change Assessment”, which was published in its entirety in April. The report summarises studies by researchers of the obstacles and challenges involved in halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity, combating climate change, and reducing pollution. How have policymakers received this report?
“The report had already been approved in December by the 150 government delegations that are members of IPBES. This happened at the 11th Session of the IPBES Plenary (IPBES 11) in Windhoek, Namibia. Prior to that, the Assessment underwent two extensive review rounds where governments – but also observer organisations in the form of NGOs or other intergovernmental organisations such as the UN – provided feedback on the report’s five chapters. Strategy 2 – driving systemic change in the sectors most responsible for biodiversity loss and nature’s decline, and Strategy 3 – transforming economic systems for nature and equity, were debated in particular.”
In the report, you point out that the goals of international climate agreements such as the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement do not appear to be achievable. What are the obstacles to their achievement, and have some of these goals changed since the IPBES report’s Summary for Policymakers was published in December?
“One could argue that the key drivers of biodiversity loss that we identified in the report are also obstacles to transformative change. These are the disconnection from and domination over nature and people; the concentration of power and wealth; and the prioritisation of short-term, individual and material gains. These factors have long been the underlying causes of unsustainable exploitation, soil degradation and pollution of the environment.
“But it pains me to see that these factors are showing no signs of abatement in the near future. On the contrary, we are now stuck with governments in the Global North who do not seem to understand how intimately connected we are with the physics, ecology, and biology of the natural environment. They seek to deny these interdependencies with dreams of infinite economic growth, technological decoupling, or neo-colonial power grabs. I am under no illusion that the conclusions of our report will reach these leaders. I hope instead that it might give people who understand how nature works the tools they need to resist such governments and their silly policies.”
Among other things, the report identifies “achievable options to foster, accelerate and maintain transformative change towards a sustainable world”. What are some examples of such achievable options?
“There are today a large number of initiatives that are often dismissed as marginal, alternative or even romantic, but which in fact constitute the best examples that address the underlying barriers of biodiversity loss. One such example of potential for change that I am studying myself is the reintroduction of working animals into agriculture and forestry. We rely on fossil fuels and machinery for many types of work in the production of food and fibre. But there are many types of work that can be done very well with the aid of animals, such as mowing grass or spreading manure with draught horses. We can also graze sheep or reindeer to reduce vegetation to help prevent forest fires, but also spreading seed and turning over the soil by keeping pigs in the forest.
Transformative change involves deep fundamental changes in the way people view and interact with nature, says Wijnand Boonstra. Photo: Mikael Wallerstedt
“Another good example of a method with the potential for transformative change is when people are made shareholders and invest in local initiatives to conserve nature or produce food. There are networks of locally operated and community-driven farms and fisheries with some very promising examples of how people can cooperate through their labour or capital in local businesses. This gives people a much more direct connection to their community and the natural environment in their immediate vicinity. What can be seen is that through such experiences and cooperation, people also often build up an understanding of and a moral concern for local sites, people and nature.”
How is IPBES continuing to address these issues?
“To catalyse further support initiatives, IPBES develops practical guidelines and convenes workshops for governments and other decision-makers in the public and private sectors. These occasions are meant to explore how our findings can be translated into policy, legislation, decisions and measures at the regional, national and sub-national level. We also plan to develop courses for formal and informal training, focusing on the use of the IPBES assessments and products in social environments.
“We also support communities of practice that have already achieved transformative change or have the potential to do so. Compared to current governments, these communities have a much better and more creative understanding of what needs to be done to sustain our living nature. Hopefully our assessment can give these efforts scientific legitimation for the important work they do."
Anneli Björkman