Senior Compliance Officer Matthew Rima of the National Environment Services, attended the 11th Plenary Meeting of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) held in Windhoek, Namibia. The meeting was held from 9th to the 16th December 2024 and brought together over 850 participants, including scientists, policymakers, and representatives from more than 150 countries, to deliberate on pressing global environmental issues.
The meeting aimed to advance the global agenda of “Living in Harmony with Nature by 2050,” focusing on biodiversity, ecosystem preservation, and sustainable development. The plenary’s objectives included the approval of two critical assessment reports—the Nexus Assessment and the Transformative Change Assessment—which provide a scientific foundation for addressing interconnected challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, food security, and public health.
During the weeklong deliberations, delegates engaged in productive discussions on the findings of these reports. The Nexus Assessment highlighted the synergies and trade-offs across biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change, offering concrete solutions for policymakers to tackle these issues holistically. Meanwhile, the Transformative Change Assessment identified the root causes of biodiversity loss and emphasized system-wide reorganization for a fair, sustainable future.
The plenary also underscored the critical role of indigenous knowledge, the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, and the need for international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges.
The Cook Islands’ participation in this global forum reflected our commitment to environmental stewardship and reinforced the relevance of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in contributing to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
The trip not only facilitated knowledge exchange but also allowed for meaningful networking with international counterparts, fostering collaborations to advance the goals of the Cook Islands’ National Environment Services.
The IPBES 11 Plenary closed on 16th of December, with a renewed call for transformative action to achieve a sustainable and equitable future for all. This experience reaffirmed the importance of science-policy platforms like IPBES in driving collaborative solutions for the planet’s most pressing issues.
