The deadline for being considered as a co-author on the upcoming IPBES report on biodiversity and the private sector is approaching. As a young researcher or expert, this also presents a unique opportunity to learn from the best while the report is being drafted.
The new buzzword for both companies and investment institutions is that they must be “nature positive,” with companies increasingly preparing themselves to address biodiversity in the same way that climate issues have found their way into corporate CSR strategies in recent years
See also: IPBES Authorship Open for New Report on Biodiversity and Business
This is a hot-button issue, but what does it mean to be “nature-positive,” and what role does the private sector play in stemming the global biodiversity crisis? The private sector and financial institutions are generally assessed by IPBES as having a significant impact on the biodiversity crisis. Previous IPBES reports have, for example, concluded that economic growth continues to have a negative effect on biodiversity. Therefore, the upcoming report on biodiversity and private companies will be a methodological report that is expected to have a major impact on how the private and financial sectors should contribute to reversing the crisis in the future.
A unique opportunity for young researchers
If you wish to apply as an author, there are two important dates to keep in mind:
The application deadline for the Danish IPBES Office’s government nomination is October 25, 2022. The IPBES office must receive your resume and, preferably, a brief statement of interest, after which it will submit a recommendation to the Ministry of the Environment.
The deadline for submitting a resume and completing the information requested via the IPBES official application form is November 1, 2022. Please note that there are two different application formats: one for early-career applicants and one for established experts.
In addition, there is a unique opportunity for young researchers at private companies or experts under the age of 36 to participate in the preparation of the report. If you are part of the target group, you’ll have the opportunity to be paired with one of the internationally selected lead authors of the report and follow the process up close, including by participating in the same author meetings. Read more here.
Webinar on October 6
If you are interested in the work on the upcoming IPBES report, you can learn more about the report’s development during the webinar hosted by the international IPBES Secretariat on Thursday, October 6, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Register for the IPBES webinar on Zoom here
Several important EU initiatives are in the works that will ensure biodiversity is addressed in the private sector and by investment firms. On behalf of Denmark, we encourage all interested parties to tune in to the webinar and consider applying, so that we can establish the best possible expertise in Denmark in this important field. IPBES is seeking a broad range of experts. Here is information from the original announcement:
IPBES is seeking experts and practitioners with expertise in the impacts of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people, as well as business dependencies on these factors, from all relevant business and financial sectors (both 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 variety of backgrounds, including academia, business and industry, government, and civil society, and from a variety of disciplines, including accounting, climatology, ecology, economics, finance, gender studies, hydrology, law, materials design and engineering, public health, risk assessment, and trade.
