IIASA researchers contribute to multiple side-events at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) – an international meeting bringing together governments, researchers, and policymakers from around the world.
The focus of this year’s CBD COP 15 is on protecting nature and halting biodiversity loss around the world. Participants will set out new goals and develop an action plan for nature over the next decade. Scientists, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders at various levels will discuss how to effectively implement the framework to achieve its goals and targets, and foster synergy among other multilateral environmental agreements (including biodiversity-related conventions, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Paris Agreement), within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Below is a list of IIASA participation in the conference:
11-12 December, Palais des Congrès de Montréal
The fifth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity aims to provide a space for scientists, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and make recommendations on how science, technology, and innovation could contribute to the effective implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and obtain positive biodiversity outcomes and foster transformative change towards achieving the 2050 vision.
11 December: David Leclere, Senior Research Scholar at IIASA, will give the keynote speech "Bending the curve of biodiversity loss needs urgent, integrated and transformative action" during the Forum Opening.
12 December: Piero Visconti, Research Group Leader at IIASA, will give a presentation on “Assessing EU policies for nature, agriculture and climate” in Session 7 and further participate in Session 9 (Production & Consuption: Public policies & private sector) and Session 10 (Restoration, connectivity, ecological integrity. How to effectively achieve and measure restoration and functionality recovery).
Transformative change for nature positive pathways
15 December, 09:00- 13:00, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Rio Convention Pavilion
Neither business as usual nor incremental changes to the ways nature is governed can possibly reverse the trend of biodiversity loss. Only by transformative change, a process that changes the underlying societal factors that drive development, can society achieve nature positive development. This includes changing institutions, governance structures, power relationships, paradigms, goals, and values.
In this context, the question this session addresses is what it will take to make the implementation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework transformative. It will do so in four rounds:
- Aligning the goals of the CBD and post-2020 GBF with climate change, land restoration, and food systems
- Mobilizing the tools of the CBD in transformative ways
- Building productive linkages between the whole of society and the whole of government
- How do we know it is happening? Recognizing transformative change, monitoring, and review
15 December: David Leclere, Senior Research Scholar at IIASA, will participate in this panel discussion.
Harnessing the power of spatial data
16 December, Palais des Congrès de Montréal, Rio Convention Pavilion
Piero Visconti, Research Group Leader at IIASA, will give a presentation on "NaturaConnect: supporting the European Commission and EU Member States in designing and implementing an coherent and resilient conservation network for Nature and People."
Upcoming Events
Austrian Academy of Sciences, Dr. Ignaz-Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna