ABSTRACT

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) faces various challenges, as highlighted in chapters 2 and 3. How can biodiversity regime complex initiatives be coordinated and integrated to improve the science-policy interface? How can an intersubjective understanding of the contents of biodiversity science be achieved in a setting of different knowledge systems, competing policy priorities, and rival agendas? How can intergovernmental dynamics be combined at different scales in selecting and assembling knowledge? The Platform design is the result of a relatively long and laborious process

of international negotiations (2008 to 2012) in the context of a biodiversity regime complex characterized by a large number of international conventions of various scopes (both general and thematic) and at all scales (global, regional and even bilateral) (see chapter 2). IPBES is governed by an array of rules and procedures which have been developed throughout this slow genesis (2008 to 2012) and regularly enhanced in every plenary session. These rules are related to the decision-making mechanism but also to the working procedure to provide a framework for and implement scientific assessments and other activities linked to the IPBES work program. The aim of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of the dynamics of

governing IPBES on two aspects, i.e. institutional functioning and its core business, namely the production of assessments on biodiversity issues. When striving to understand the dynamics of IPBES, we focus on some aspects that have been controversial among the participants, including the question of the legal status of IPBES. The plenary sessions highlight the IPBES functioning process.1 Generally,

an IPBES Plenary agenda is structured as follows. Firstly, the organizational matters aim to finalize the agenda, to specify the membership of the Platform and validate the presence of observers. The representatives’ credentials enable an evaluation of the exact number of members represented at the Plenary. Secondly, the work program and then the financial and budgetary arrangements for the Platform are discussed in the Plenary sessions. Further, the Platform operating rules and procedures are discussed, followed by debates on communications and stakeholder engagement strategies. Then the

members discuss the institutional arrangements, including United Nations collaborative partnership arrangements for the work of the Platform and its Secretariat. Finally, the provisional agenda, date and venue of future plenaries are tabled, followed by the adoption of decisions and reports of the session. Throughout this chapter, we strive to grasp the main elements of this

conventional IPBES Plenary structure. This chapter will be a useful guide for readers who have not participated in an IPBES Plenary, giving them some insight into the Plenary process. We have grouped these elements in two main parts:

1 What is the legal status of IPBES and how is it governed? This part focuses mainly on the decision-making process, including the organizational matters, rules of procedure of the Plenary, the Bureau and the multidisciplinary expert panel (MEP). We also include the institutional arrangements and financial and budgetary arrangements that shed light on the IPBES governing dynamics.