Search
IPBES- The thematic assessment report on Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health: Summary for Policymakers

ipbes (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) | SourceDownload |

 

The IPBES Nexus Assessment addresses biodiversity loss, water scarcity, food insecurity, health risks, and climate change. Compiled by 165 scientists from 57 countries over three years, with 6,500 references, it examines trends and highlights nature’s contributions to people. The report proposes synergetic solutions to mitigate trade-offs and drive transformative change toward sustainable futures, aligning with global goals like the SDGs, Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), and the Paris Agreement, while providing actionable insights for integrated governance and decision-making across nexus elements.

Key Messages

  • Past and current nexus interactions: Biodiversity supports food, water, and health systems while stabilizing the climate but has declined by 2–6% per decade, disrupting ecosystems and worsening inequalities. Over 50% of people face severe impacts from biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and climate change. Economic activities relying on nature generate ~$58 trillion annually, but unsustainable practices impose external costs of $25 trillion, disproportionately harming vulnerable populations.
  • Future nexus interactions: Continuing trends will worsen biodiversity loss, food and water insecurity, and climate impacts. Food systems contribute 21–37% of greenhouse gas emissions, intensifying food insecurity for 800 million people. Integrated strategies, such as agroforestry in Niger that increased cereal yields by 30%, can enhance biodiversity, soil health, and align with global goals like the SDGs.
  • Response options: Cost-effective solutions, including sustainable agriculture, urban greening, and ecosystem service payments (~$42 billion annually), yield cross-sector benefits. Coordinated actions supporting frameworks like the SDGs and GBF amplify synergies. Measures such as reducing plastics improve water quality, and equitable approaches, like Brazil’s Unified Health System, showcase effective integration across biodiversity, food, and health.
  • Governing for just and sustainable futures: Transformative governance integrating policies and finance is vital for nexus management. Addressing biodiversity’s $1 trillion annual financing gap requires systemic reforms. Examples include transboundary water cooperation and urban infrastructure to mitigate floods and enhance food production, aligning with frameworks to protect 30% of global land and waters by 2030.
Viewed Articles
IPBES- The thematic assessment report on Interlinkages among Biodiversity, Water, Food and Health: Summary for Policymakers
ipbes (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) | Source | Download | The IPBES Nexus Assessment addresses biodiversity loss, water scarcity, food insecurity,
Read More
EU Farm to Fork strategy
European Commission| Source | Download | The Farm to Fork Strategy, a core component of the European Green Deal, aims at transforming food systems into equitable, healthy, and eco-friendly models. It
California Air Resources Board 2022 Scoping Plan for Achieving Carbon Neutrality
California Air Resources Board | Source | Download |Introduction: California's commitment to combatting climate change traces back to the landmark California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (
Recipe for a Livable Planet: Achieving Net Zero Emissions in the Agrifood System
World Bank | Source | Download  | The "Recipe for a Livable Planet" presents the first comprehensive global strategic framework aimed at mitigating the agrifood system's significant contributions
WWF: 10 Key Principles for Effective Marine and Coastal Restoration
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) | Source | Report | This WWF report introduces a science-based framework to guide EU Member States in implementing marine and coastal restoration under the 2024 Nature
UK: Government food strategy
UK Government| Source | Download |The UK's food and drink industry is pivotal to the government's agenda for equitable growth. Valued at over £120 billion annually and employing over 4 million
TOP