Session 1

[Science4biodiversity Moderator]

Dear visitor,

Welcome to the Q&A block for the Session 1 of the The Fifth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and The Eighth International Conference on Sustainability Science, scheduled on 13 April 2021.

Please note that, since all the questions cannot be handled in the time provided, this section is made for all the presenters, panelists and attendees to continue the exchange through the forum which will remain open for three days after the end of this session, i.e; till 16 April 2021.

Thank you for your patience.

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Alice C. Hughes questioned
Prof Watson, what would you see as the probability to “recovering better” when many countries have actively removed environmental safeguards to provide an economic stimulus for recovery? Can you see mechanisms to circumvent these risks?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Keita Hamada questioned
My question is, what can be suggested as an alternative as a means of consumption that is sustainable that does not have unintended consequences and harm the environment? What can we do as common consumers to prevent further environmental degradation?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Nakul Chetri questioned
The mountain ecosystem, which is the last bastion of biodiversity with 50% of global biodiversity hotspots, such as the Himalayas are facing double edge challenges of higher global warming and biodiversity loss impacting on food, water and energy among others. Any view for greater attention to such fragile ecosystems!

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Jacqueline Hamilton questioned
What are some ways to communicate that states (and all actors) can no longer pick their favourite/easiest targets and not act on critical actions and integration, especially participation of marginalized communities?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Lawrence Sperling questioned
Sir Watson – the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda started out of the blocks with a lot of enthusiasm and seemed to generate a great deal of political will – countries, financial institutions, companies and civil society organizations world wide began to organize their strategies around the SDG framework, and partner with each other, reflecting increased awareness of the interconnected nature of social, economic, environmental and governance issues. Despite this “great buzz”, by 2020 (i.e., before the pandemic), it was already apparent that the world was far behind in achieving the SDGs. To what do you attribute this failure across all the dimensions of the SDGs, in spite of all the excitement they initially generated. What lessons can we take from this for reinvigorating the interconnected approach you call for in the post-pandemic era?.

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Debapriyo Chakraborty questioned
Sir Robert – My question is in the context of what you talked about–the current GDP-focused economic paradigm that is driven essentially by consumption. In this context, what is your opinion on the sustainability of Green Investment projects, which encourage environment-friendly investments without really challenging the fundamental consumption-based business models.

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Anthony Stephen DiMeglio questioned
In regards to science communication, what are we doing to address the decline in the animal and animal behaviour images in communicating science? I reference this paper here: DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.02.004

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Taye Teferi questioned
It is important and very useful to provide helpful reports like ‘Making Peace With Nature’ but if this is not accompanied by a practical, easy to use ‘influence plan’, it just remains a report that may not be acted on. Is there an ‘influence plan’ that accompanies this important report which can guide stakeholders drive the effort from ‘evidence-to-influence’ and get meaningful action?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Derrick Mugisha questioned
It’s Derrick Mugisha, from CEO Biodiversity Hub International and Coordinator Uganda Youth Biodiversity Network, my question is what percentage of the each aichi target was achieved from what Ogwal has presented on Targets Achieved

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Jorge Ventocilla questioned
Understanding that knowledge is needed to inform policy, and aware that reports like the GBO and the IPBES GA testify to things not going well for biodiversity, for some decades now, what else is missing to mobilize policy? It’s certainly more than just the inability to communicate in a common language.

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Anthony Stephen DiMeglio questioned
Regarding improvements to science communication and mainstreaming nature, what are we doing to address the decline in use and generation of animal and animal behaviour images to communicating science? I reference this paper to introduce the topic: DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.02.004

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Anna Hewson questioned
Francis – Was the commitment 5 or 20% for a updated zero draft (a) for area connectivity and integrity of natural ecosystems? The bold text seemed different to the italics apologies I missed why this was

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Eileen Bogweh Nchanji questioned
How are we make sure we are leaving no one behind?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Anna Hewson questioned
Will there be any actions on population size as well – incentives for less children, co2 budget per household? Tricky.

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Valasia Iakovoglou quuestioned
What are the actions for outreach? Thank you

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Michael Cedric B. Bartolome questioned
about the target 11 on biodiversity in green/blue spaces specially in urban areas, can it be incorporated in the range ing matrix for green building certifications?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Kolan Bharath Reddy
Why dont cbd has a review mechanism where if parties are implementing the targets ? and give ranking to the parties based on their achievements…like how world bank ranks countries based on economic achievement

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

WANG Ying questioned
Any possibility to set/formulate targets/indicators to reflect the synergy of CBD and UNFCCC?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Lawrence Sperling questioned
For Francis – can you elaborate on the “science-policy interface”? As you move from broad goals to milestones and targets, the technical nature of the framework may quickly become overwhelming for non-technical policy-makers, whose buy-in is critical to marshalling the resources and maintaing the momentum needed to achieve the goals. How do you make sure that the wonderful technical work being done to elaborate and implement the 2050 GBF is understood and taken up by policy makers to garner the political will and resources needed to realize the theory of change?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Li Li questioned
I found the new IPBES triangle framework very inspiring, especially on the dimension of nature as culture. I wonder how this dimension of nature can be captured by scenario analysis as the level of harmony between nature and people is intangible and not easy to assess. And how this kind of information could contribute to the implementation of the post-2020 GBF?

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

Thanks Li Li, agreed this component of the triangle is definitely the most challenging to assess. We’re working with a diverse group of stakeholders to see how we can derive appropriate metrics and indicators to capture what we mean by nature as culture without losing the intangible aspects. I think being able to use narratives to ensure that the full complexity of perspectives is captured and then moving to quantification and modelling is an important step. In terms of GBF I think the key message is to ensure that we acknowelge the diversity of value perspectives that people have for nature- not just instrumental- so as to be able to ensure that these desires are captured in the implementation- and that we’re able as best we can to capture a full range of perspectives, especially those of more marginalised groups.

[Science4biodiversity_moderator]

bashiryusufabubakar questioned
I’m still with the opinion that the best approach to save and enrich our biodiversity is a complete change to our farming system in sub saharan Africa. Agroforestry ensures you enrich the farms with more multipurpose trees with direct implications on biodiversity enrichment. But, why not the FAO put a policy and implementation on our farming system?

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