As cited in the ministry's news report, the IPBES was established in 2012 and operates in a similar manner to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). IPBES is one of the main forums for the international scientific community to collect, analyse and disseminate basic information on the state of biodiversity and provide advice in this field. IPBES works to provide governments and other parties with reliable and scientifically based information on the state of natural resources and the impact of human activities on biodiversity and ecosystems, as well as recommendations on how to improve this state. The focus of IPBES is on biodiversity and how we can protect natural resources that are important for our quality of life and development.

Iceland has only been an observer so far, but full membership will provide opportunities to strengthen Iceland’s international contribution and to put Icelandic priorities on the agenda, including issues related to the Arctic. The accession is part of the process of supporting biodiversity, as stated in the government’s declaration of policy.

The minister explains about this phase in the Ministry’s report:

“Iceland’s membership in IPBES is an important step forward for biodiversity. With the participation, we have the opportunity to strengthen the role of biodiversity in Icelandic administration through the support that IPBES provides us. Iceland’s active participation in international scientific research and deeper international cooperation are key to maximising Iceland’s success in this regard.”

The news story on the website of the Ministry of Environment, Energy and Climate