IPBES report: Urgent steps for the transition to sustainability!

IPBES report: Urgent steps for the transition to sustainability!

On March 9, 2025, a significant report on transformative change was adopted, which is intended to provide the basis for future policy decisions in the area of ​​biodiversity and sustainability. The document, prepared as part of the IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), represents a comprehensive scientific analysis that serves as important guidance for policy makers. More than 100 scientists from 42 countries worked on the report over a period of more than three years. The aim was to identify key influencing factors for sustainable change and to develop concrete options for action that combine ecological, social and economic goals.

The report entitled “Thematic Assessment on Transformative Change” was officially adopted in Windhoek, Namibia. Tobias Plieninger, who led the chapter on the challenges of transformative change, identified several barriers that hinder sustainable change. These barriers include colonial thinking, environmentally harmful subsidies, unsustainable production and consumption methods, and unequal access to knowledge and technologies. However, historical examples show that such barriers can be overcome.

Proposed measures

To accelerate the necessary change, the report proposed several measures. These include the transformation of economic systems towards greater natural and social justice, the promotion of nature-friendly technologies and interdisciplinary cooperation in various sectors, such as agriculture, forestry and the health sector. Plieninger emphasizes that indigenous knowledge systems should also contribute to shaping change.

A key finding of the report is the discrepancy between the need for change and the often hesitant implementation at the political level. Plieninger recognizes that there is an urgent need for action in sectors with a high level of responsibility for the destruction of nature. Despite these challenges, he remains optimistic about the possibility of profound change.

Link to the national initiative

The report is not only a scientific document, but also an impetus for political measures and strategies. In Germany, the national biodiversity strategy 2030 (NBS 2030) is supported by several research projects that have been coordinated by the BMUV and BfN since 2019. The results of stakeholder workshops and interdisciplinary dialogues are incorporated into the catalog of measures to promote socio-ecological transformations, as shown bfn.de described.

As part of a public consultation on NBS 2030, which began on June 15, 2023, citizens and stakeholders had the opportunity to comment on the draft. This participation was considered important by various social groups and contributed to engagement. Over 1,000 comments were received, with many focusing on topics such as agricultural landscapes, protected areas and urban landscapes, which also underlines the explosiveness of the areas of action identified there.

The broad aim of the assessment and national strategy is to realize Vision 2050 for biodiversity and achieve the associated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The challenge is to identify concrete barriers and explore effective ways to promote transformative change de-ipbes.de explained.

Overall, the report is seen as an essential step towards a more conscious approach to biodiversity and the earth, which must now be put into practice through political decisions and joint action in order to meet the challenges of the future.