The second session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-2) was held in Antalya, Turkey from the 9th to 14th December, 2013.
The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr. Floyd Homer, Biodiversity Specialist (Head of Delegation); Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU) and Ms. Anastasia Gordon, Environmental Policy Analyst, Environmental Policy and Planning Division, both from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Dr. Homer also serves as a member of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) to the IPBES.
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Dr. Homer (left), hard at work at MEP table at the IPBES-2.
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Ms. Gordon awaiting the start of Plenary at IPBES-2.
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The purpose of IPBES-2 was mainly centred on finalising the organisational, financial, administrative, and institutional arrangements for the operationalisation of the Platform. Culminating from discussions, delegates were successful in adopting a set of decisions regarded as “the Antalya Consensus,” paying homage to the host country of the second session of the Plenary of IPBES.
The Antalya Consensus includes decisions on:
- fast track, thematic, regional and sub-regional assessments and activities for capacity building,
- a conceptual framework
- rules and procedures for the Platform specifically the nomination of future Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) members and procedures for the preparation of the Platform’s deliverables
- a collaborative partnership arrangement was made with four UN agencies; Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
By adopting the Antalya Consensus, member States were instrumental in ensuring that the Platform becomes fully functional. The Consensus was also a testament of the collective ambition to tackle global biodiversity challenges.
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