Transformative Change and Nexus: A Look Back at an Important Webinar

On December 19, 2024, Ateliers pour la biodiversité organized a major webinar bringing together nearly 100 participants from Quebec and around the world, representing academia, science, the environment, government, business, and finance, to discuss the IPBES Nexus and Transformative Change reports.

The event followed the publication of two new reports by IPBES (the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), nicknamed the “IPCC of biodiversity,” providing an initial response to the latest scientific findings.

The webinar, moderated by Laura Fequino, policy analyst at Ateliers pour la biodiversité, brought together four Quebec experts to discuss the issues and concrete solutions for Quebec:

• Marie-Audrey Nadeau-Fortin, biodiversity analyst, Nature Québec

• Mélanie McDonald, executive director, Chemins de transition

• Ginette Riopel, facilitator, Atelier des sols vivants

• David Roy, executive director, Ateliers pour la biodiversité

  
  

An in-depth analysis of the new IPBES reports

The two reports presented have complementary objectives:

• Nexus Assessment: This report explores the interconnections between biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate. It shows that initiatives that consider these interactions in a systemic way maximize benefits and minimize adverse effects on ecosystems.

• Assessment on Transformative Change: This report highlights the root causes of biodiversity loss and identifies the strategies that should be prioritized to achieve sustainable systemic change and transform our modes of production, consumption, and governance.

These reports emphasize that it is impossible to envisage protecting biodiversity without profound systemic transformations in our economic, social, and technological models, as well as a shift in collective values.

Toward transformative and concerted changes

Discussions emphasized the importance of an integrated and collaborative approach. In the agricultural sector, for example, it is not enough to change certain practices: water management, soil fertility, biodiversity, and interactions with local communities must be rethought to ensure multiple benefits.

Energy transition and natural resource exploitation (mining and forestry) were identified as priority sectors for major transformations. Participants emphasized that certain current practices, such as the destruction of natural environments in the name of energy transition or forest management focused on production rather than ecosystem management, are not aligned with IPBES recommendations.

To achieve these transformations, it is essential to mobilize all actors, whether local or international. The Chemins de transition approach, presented during the webinar, proposes using forward-looking narratives to create a collective vision and define concrete courses of action. This method makes the complexity of the issues more accessible and encourages all stakeholders to take ownership of the transformations.

Concrete examples and sources of hope

The panelists shared several inspiring initiatives:

• David Roy (Ateliers pour la biodiversité) emphasized the importance of opening up dialogue on biodiversity to new stakeholders who do not necessarily consider themselves environmentalists. These discussions invite us to rethink our values and practices, while broadening engagement to sectors that are often less involved.

• Mélanie McDonald (Chemins de transition) presented the emergence of a growing consensus on the importance of collective visions. She showed how initiatives that promote dialogue and reconciliation, particularly with Indigenous peoples, contribute to building shared trajectories and making transformative changes more sustainable.

• Marie-Audrey Nadeau-Fortin (Nature Québec) emphasized the importance of citizen mobilization and government plans that truly integrate transformative change. In her view, these initiatives demonstrate that collective and structured action can steer decisions toward greater consideration of biodiversity.

• Ginette Riopel (Atelier des sols vivants) highlighted the growing adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and interest in soil resilience. She explained that these approaches not only protect ecosystems, but also strengthen farmers' ability to adapt to environmental challenges.

  
  

A unique opportunity for Quebec and beyond

This webinar provided an in-depth and contextualized overview of the findings of the latest IPBES reports. It transformed complex scientific data into concrete and inspiring perspectives, and proposed clear paths for initiating transformative change in Quebec while inspiring international participants.

The event demonstrated that it is possible to take concerted action in the face of major global crises, and that every actor, whether local or international, has a role to play in building a future where biodiversity is integrated into our decisions.

On the horizon: COP17, IUCN, and the future impact of IPBES's work

The conclusions of these two reports will certainly have repercussions beyond Quebec. They will guide discussions at COP17 and at the IUCN Congress, while influencing the future work of IPBES, particularly the upcoming report on Business and Biodiversity. These international initiatives offer a unique opportunity to transform scientific recommendations into concrete action on a global scale and to continue to mobilize public and private actors and citizens around sustainable solutions for biodiversity.