The Pan-European Stakeholder Consultation (PESC) for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is co-organised by the ECA Network, the RESPIN project, and Biodiversa+. A four-day meeting, referred to as the PESC-RESPIN Joint Meeting or PESC8, took place in Brussels from 10 to 14 March 2025.
This event brought together 115 registered participants, including National Focal Points (NFPs), experts, and organisations working at the science-policy interface on biodiversity and climate change in Europe and Central Asia. It provided opportunities for networking and exchanging views on key topics related to engagement with IPBES and the IPCC. The full report of this meeting is available on the RESPIN website. The programme, presentations, posters, and event report can also be found on the PESC-RESPIN page.
Highlight from the PESC-RESPIN Meeting
On the first day of the meeting, four notable speakers set the stage by introducing the participants to the ECA Networks, IPCC, IPBES and SPI projects - BioAgora, Biodiversa+, CO-OP4CBD and RESPIN. Starting with Axel Paulsch from the Institute for Biodiversity Network (IBN) who presented the ECA Network: ECA connects IPBES NFPs and national biodiversity platforms in Europe and Central Asia, working at the science-policy interface. It links the national scientific community, administrative and political actors, and other stakeholders.
Nathalie Morata from the Foundation for Biodiversity Research (FRB), coordinator of the CO-OP4CBD project, presented EU initiatives supporting the science-policy interface for biodiversity. She outlined how CO-OP4CBD, BioAgora, RESPIN, and Biodiversa+ contribute to bridging biodiversity and climate science with policy.
David Gonzalez, from the IPBES Secretariat, presented IPBES and its rolling work programme up to 2030. He explained how IPBES strengthens knowledge foundations to inform policy, supporting biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, long-term human well-being, and sustainable development. He also outlined the IPBES structure, assessments, and planned activities.
Dr Gerrit Hansen, Senior Advisor at the IPCC WGI TSU Paris-Saclay, introduced the IPCC and the 7th Assessment Cycle (AR7). She outlined the IPCC's role in assessing scientific, technical, and socio-economic information to understand human-induced climate change, its impacts, and mitigation and adaptation options. She also reviewed the IPCC history, structure, reporting process, and key challenges.
The following three days were focused on interactive sessions on the topics of exploring opportunities for NFPs and experts in the IPBES and the IPCC processes, raising awareness about them and the interlinkages between the EU projects, climate and biodiversity.
Read all the findings from the interactive session in the full report of the PESC-RESPIN event, and share with experts who might be interested in becoming part of and IPBES and IPCC processes!
