Biodiversity loss: IPBES Nexus Assessment Report calls for integrated action to address five global crises

The latest IPBES report reveals several opportunities to jointly address environmental crises related to biodiversity loss, climate change, food, health, and water – interconnected elements that form what is known as the Nexus[1].

The Nexus Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), published in December 2024, is a crucial report not only for biodiversity, but also for nature as a whole, the climate, and other ecological challenges we face. It explains the critical assessment of scientific research by 165 international experts over three years and underlines the importance of an integrated consideration of the 5 life pillars (biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate change).

Two years after the Kunming-Montreal Agreement[2], this report proposes concrete actions for public decision-makers to reverse biodiversity loss and move toward a more resilient, equitable world that respects planetary boundaries. The IPBES highlights the need for strengthened international coordination, recently supported by the conclusion of the COP 16 in Rome, which took a significant step forward in recent weeks with the adoption of concrete financial measures. These commitments reinforce global biodiversity targets and directly support the report’s recommendations, particularly regarding biodiversity financing.

In this blog, EcoAct’s team of biodiversity and nature experts review the key takeaways from this report.

Biodiversity is declining in all regions of the world and at all spatial scales

Over the past 30 to 50 years, all indicators assessed by the IPBES reveal a decline in biodiversity of around 2 to 6% per decade. The destruction of biodiversity triggers a chain of interconnected crises that threaten the stability of human societies. The effects of globalisation, such as economic and demographic growth, and technological progress, have intensified direct pressures on biodiversity and all ecosystems combined.

Yet all our activities depend on nature[3]: without it, no economy can be sustainable. This vital link is now threatened, and the interaction of direct and indirect factors on biodiversity has led to negative cascading effects on the various elements of the Nexus.

For example, increased food production has improved caloric intake and human health, but at the cost of unsustainable agricultural practices. These practices have accelerated biodiversity loss and affected other elements of the Nexus, such as overexploitation of water resources, increased pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and degraded food quality. This is a result of a fragmented approach to the elements of the Nexus, where decisions have prioritised short-term gains without considering the negative impacts on other essential components.

A holistic approach is necessary to limit impacts on the environment and populations

In addition to the risks associated with the impact of Nexus crises on businesses, it is important to note that the longer efforts to preserve the Nexus are delayed, the higher the potential costs will be. For example, if we delay biodiversity conservation efforts for another 10 years, the associated costs could double, to which we would need to add at least $5.3 trillion per year for the fight against climate change[4]. Each year, approximately $1.7 trillion in subsidies have a negative impact on biodiversity (e.g., fossil fuel subsidies, agricultural subsidies that encourage intensive pesticide use, etc.). However, only 43% of the funding dedicated to its protection also benefits another aspect of the Nexus.

At the same time, the report demonstrates that negative cascading effects degrading biodiversity have exacerbated social and economic disparities, with greater negative impacts on poorer and vulnerable communities, who are directly dependent on nature for their survival. Marginalised communities are less able to protect themselves against negative environmental impacts and are the most affected.

The private sector has a key role to play in combining resilience, engagement, and competitiveness with a view to a holistic, inclusive, and equitable environmental transition based on consideration of nature as a whole.

Preserving nature or overexploiting it: what path for tomorrow?

The experts analysed 186 scenarios from 52 different studies, which they grouped into six archetypes illustrating the different possible futures based on the chosen priorities.

There is still room to reverse the trend. “Nature-first” or “Balanced” scenarios, with integrated actions (e.g., sustainable production and consumption actions combined with ecosystem conservation and restoration) offer the best outcomes for biodiversity, water, health, and climate. Conversely, scenarios that focus on a single element of the Nexus (e.g., “Climate First”) or so-called “Business-as-usual” scenarios (focused on the exploitation of nature) can have negative impacts on biodiversity and food security due to competition for land use.

So, what can organisations do to address Nexus interactions?

The report offers 71 response options, grouped into 10 broad categories.

These options represent a range of solutions that synergistically consider the various elements of the Nexus, and are directly accessible to stakeholders (governments, the private sector, civil society, and indigenous peoples). Numerous actions already exist, and many of them are low-cost. Their application must be contextualised according to local realities, particularly the political, social, and ecological challenges encountered.

For example, the report mentions a mangrove restoration project in Senegal that resulted in significant carbon sequestration, which also led to the restoration of biodiversity in these ecosystems, a reduction in coastal erosion and improved water quality, as well as improvements in food security, health, and the quality of life of local populations. Investing in carbon finance and the development of this type of project is one of the ways in which private financing can contribute to positive environmental, economic, and social impacts.

The report also demonstrates that the timing of actions plays a key role. Indeed, applying certain actions jointly or sequentially according to different contexts can generate the full potential of the different elements of the Nexus. However, current silo approaches to each of the elements, failing to consider interconnections and potential trade-offs, hinder this potential. This is why these proposed responses are considered powerful mechanisms for achieving the objectives of multiple policy frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development or the Kunming-Montreal Agreement, which are less directly linked to the Nexus. Each category supports between 7 and 12 Sustainable Development Goals, between 9 and 19 targets of the Kunming-Montreal GBF, and the long-term mitigation and adaptation objectives of the Paris Agreement.

IPBES advocates for the need to move toward more integrated, inclusive, equitable, coordinated, and adaptive “Nexus governance approaches”

The report offers a roadmap for public decision-makers and stakeholders. As our current governance systems are insufficiently responsive to environmental challenges, it is therefore necessary to adopt a systemic and integrated vision of the Nexus, which is essential to achieving a just and sustainable future. IPBES emphasises the integration of indigenous peoples and local communities in the design, governance, and implementation of these solutions, as their knowledge is recognised as crucial for climate action and sustainable resource management.

This report highlights the interdependence of ecosystems and the importance of a holistic approach that integrates climate, biodiversity, and all the services provided by nature. This vision aligns with EcoAct’s Nature strategy, which supports its clients in developing integrated solutions, consistent with international frameworks such as the TNFD and the CSRD.

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[1] Nexus: link between two or more elements, sectors, or systems

[2] The Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted in 2022 at COP 15. Its main objectives are to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030, reduce pollution, and restore degraded ecosystems, while mobilizing funding for nature conservation.

[3] TNFD, 2024

[4] The additional funding required to safeguard biodiversity is estimated at between $300 billion and $1 trillion annually; for the other components of the Nexus, these needs reach $4 trillion per year.