Manchester Witnesses History Global Biodiversity Summit Approves the Business & Biodiversity Report

The twelfth plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) concluded successfully this week, with Manchester, UK—a city historically at the forefront of the Industrial Revolution—hosting delegates from more than 150 member governments, observers, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, as well as leading biodiversity scientists and experts from around the world. The gathering aimed to translate scientific findings into policy and action. This marked the first time the United Kingdom hosted this global intergovernmental meeting.

A key outcome of the meeting was the formal approval of the Summary for Policymakers of the Business & Biodiversity Report. This three-year global scientific assessment, authored by 80 experts from all regions, provides the first systematic overview of how business activities impact and depend on biodiversity, offering governments and companies scientific evidence and actionable recommendations to better manage the relationship between business and nature.

On the first day, IPBES held its most successful Stakeholder Day in history, with over 500 participants from around the world exploring ways to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable business practices. The opening ceremony featured a performance by local artists who used bionic arms to enable plants to create music and visual art, highlighting the intersection of technology and art.

UK Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Emma Reynolds delivered the keynote speech, joined by IPBES Chair Dr. David Obura and Executive Secretary Dr. Luthando Dziba. A message from His Majesty King Charles, delivered through Secretary Reynolds, emphasized that the meeting would provide guidance for future action and mobilize both public and private sector funding for biodiversity protection. Secretary Reynolds noted that while nations are accelerating ecological restoration, the window to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 is narrowing, and urgent global action is required.

Dr. Obura highlighted that Manchester, as a historic hub of industrial and business transformation, was an ideal venue for reviewing the report. The World Economic Forum’s 2026 Global Risks Report has again identified biodiversity loss as the second most critical long-term risk to global business. Dr. Dziba added that IPBES will continue to provide scientific support to achieve current goals and to shape the global agenda beyond 2030.

The plenary also discussed the topics for the next phase of IPBES assessments. The meeting concluded successfully with close collaboration among all parties, providing a landmark scientific and policy guide for global biodiversity conservation and sustainable business development