Cardiff Professor appointed to Inter-governmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.

Professor Susan Baker has been appointed to work on the Values Assessment of the IPBES.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.

As the IPBES points out in its recent Global Assessment Report, “Nature is essential for human existence and good quality of life.” Yet decisions about the uses of our increasingly fragile natural resources and how to protect them often fail to account for  the diversity of  ways that different communities attach value to nature. Acknowledging these diverse values is essential if we are to  adequately addresses the challenge of achieving global sustainability.

The forthcoming “Values Assessment” will present the most robust findings to date on how diverse communities value nature differently, and provide evidence to help decision-makers recognise different types of values of nature to inform decision making.

Working with expert authors from a wide range of disciplinary and interdisciplinary backgrounds, Professor Baker has been appointed as Review Editor to Chapter 4 of the Values Assessment, along with fellow Reviews Editor, Juan-Camilo Cárdenas Professor of Economics, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Columbia. Working as review editors, they will help to guide the authors through the complex process and navigate the comments from global stakeholders.

Professor Baker said “When the IPBES Values Assessment is released in 2022, it will provide a scientific basis to inform decisions that account for the diversity of values in our interactions with nature” she added “Assessing this diversity of values and how they are incorporated into decision making will contribute to addressing conflicts over nature and promoting more equitable decisions.”

Drafts of the assessment report will be opened for two rounds of external review, by experts and governments, before the final report is presented for consideration to the 130 member States of IPBES in 2022.