24 July 2024
EM/2024/34
External review of the IPBES business and biodiversity assessment now live until 17 September
2024

Dear IPBES members, observers and other interested stakeholders,With reference to notification EM/2024/24 (15 May 2024), I am pleased to announce the start of theexternal review of the methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on
biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people (business and biodiversity assessment), which isopen from 24 July to 17 September 2024 (8 weeks).
This assessment is being carried out following the fast-track approach, involving a single externalreview. Consequently, the first draft of the chapters and the first draft of the summary forpolicymakers are made available for this external review. An additional Government review of thesummary for policymakers is planned for April/May 2025.
This external review is addressed to Governments and interested and qualified experts, including
scientists, decision makers, practitioners and other knowledge holders. To ensure the highest scientificquality and policy relevance of the assessment, the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel is seeking thewidest-possible participation of experts from all relevant disciplines and backgrounds.
If you would like to participate as an expert reviewer in this external review, please follow these steps:
1. Register as a user of the IPBES website (https://ipbes.net/user/register) if you have not alreadydone so;2.

Register to review
impact/fod/registration;

thedraftdocuments

athttps://www.ipbes.net/business-

3. Once registered, you will receive an email providing confidential access to the draft summary
for policymakers, draft chapters 1-6 and glossary;
4. Comments must be submitted in English using the Excel comment template available on thesame webpage as the draft documents;
5. Comments must be submitted electronically via the IPBES website; when you are ready tosubmit your comments, please upload your completed Excel template no later than
17 September 2024 using the “Add Review” button on the same page as the draft documents(you must be logged in to upload your template);________________________________________________________________________________
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53 113 Bonn, Germany
mea-ipbes-secretariat@un.org • www.ipbes.net

6. If you encounter any technical issues uploading your comments template, please contact meaipbes-registration@un.org.

An online dialogue with national focal points and an online dialogue with stakeholders, including
practitioners, will be held in the context of the external review of this assessment. There will be twosessions for each of these dialogues:
Tuesday, 27 August 2024 - Online dialogue with national focal points:••

Session 1: 10.00 a.m. - noon CEST (with English – Chinese, Russian and Arabic interpretation)
Session 2: 4.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. CEST (with English – Spanish and French interpretation)

Thursday, 29 August 2024 – Online dialogue with stakeholders, including practitioners:••

Session 1: 10.00 a.m. - noon CEST (English only)
Session 2: 4.00 pm. – 6:00 p.m. CEST (English only)

Please note that you need to register as a reviewer to participate in the dialogues (step 2 above). The
dialogue registration link will be made available by email after a successful registration as a reviewer.
Please contact the technical support unit on capacity-building for technical questions regarding theonline dialogues (tsu.capacitybuilding@ipbes.miljodir.no).
The Plenary will be invited to consider the summary for policymakers of the business and biodiversity
assessment for approval and its chapters for acceptance at IPBES 12, currently planned for the end of2025.

I thank you for your continued support to IPBES.
Yours sincerely,Dr Anne Larigauderie | Executive Secretary
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)________________________________________________________________________________
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
Platz der Vereinten Nationen 1, 53 113 Bonn, Germany
mea-ipbes-secretariat@un.org • www.ipbes.net