The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has announced a financial contribution to its work on biodiversity science and policy by the BNP Paribas Foundation, a philanthropic arm of one of the biggest banking groups in the world.
Among BNP Paribas Foundation’s contributions, is the pledge to mobilize a total of 6 million euros in financing for the protection of biodiversity and climate change, using the research and evidence from IPBES to help inform their actions and to better understand their impacts.
Speaking about the announcement, Isabelle Giordano, Head of Group Philanthropy and General Delegate of the BNP Paribas Foundation, said, “Action for climate and preservation of biodiversity is at the heart of BNP Paribas’ environmental and social commitment policy. To address this major challenge, the BNP Paribas Foundation has been very active since 2010 through its Climate & Biodiversity Initiative programme.”
“In the past, philanthropic activities have often focused primarily on social issues, and they have been able to effect positive change in many ways,” said Dr. Anne Larigauderie, Executive Secretary of IPBES. “So, it is exciting to see the science and policy of biodiversity now rising to a higher level of philanthropic priority. We all depend on a healthy planet, and with the right support we can really make a difference.”
“It is our conviction that collective action represents a concrete way to face present and future environmental challenges,” added Ms. Giordano. “Today we at the BNP Paribas Foundation are proud to announce our close collaboration with IPBES, one of the key stakeholders in these important issues.”
IPBES is currently working on a number of new expert assessments. This week in Montpellier, France, it is hosting the first author meeting of the new Transformative Change Assessment on the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity. This will be followed, next week in Frankfurt, Germany, by the first author meeting for the Nexus Assessment, which analyzes the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health.
