The world’s biodiversity is at a crossroads. Over a million species now face extinction and understanding our connection with nature has never been more urgent. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is taking the lead, giving governments, communities and individuals the evidence we need to protect our planet.

This August 2025, IPBES announced the co-chairs for its Second Global Assessment, a landmark study set for release in 2028. With a team of more than 120 international experts, this assessment aims to guide global decision-makers with the latest knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services - building on the seminal 2019 Global Assessment.

Meet the scientists

Three world-class scientific experts will lead the charge:

Prof. Nicholas (Nick) Otienoh Oguge (Kenya) – Senior scientist in environmental policy at the University of Nairobi, specialising in nature and landscape conservation while supporting sustainable livelihoods for local communities.
Dr. Rebecca (Becky) Chaplin-Kramer (United States) - Global Biodiversity Lead Scientist at WWF, focusing on translating evidence about nature’s contributions into actionable insights.
Prof. Zhi Lü (China) – Executive Director of Peking University Center for Nature and Society, with decades of experience in ecology and conservation of endangered species.

As Neville Ash, IPBES Officer in Charge, explained:

“The Second Global Assessment will be one of the most complex, extensive and significant environmental assessments ever undertaken – with great relevance and value to decision makers around the world and in every context, for people and nature.”

The assessment will also highlight and synthesise findings of prior IPBES reports, examining the roles of diverse actors and value systems in delivering the building blocks for transformative change. The authors will address gaps in the first Global Assessment and explore emerging issues.

Why It Matters for You

The 2019 IPBES Global Assessment sent shockwaves around the world, revealing the scale of biodiversity loss and the main drivers behind it. The new report will take stock of global progress toward sustainability goals, including those outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Some countries have faced challenges in meeting these global targets, while others have found effective solutions. The Second Global Assessment will examine both:

Some countries have encountered significant challenges in responding and contributing towards global objectives and targets such as those of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This assessment will examine these challenges while also showcasing progress made, identifying the enabling conditions behind successful outcomes. It will point to ways of overcoming obstacles so that effective approaches can be scaled up across different contexts.

For everyday readers, this is about more than just statistics - it’s about our lives, our communities, our future. From clean air to food security, biodiversity underpins everything we rely on. This report will help translate complex science into guidance that can be applied locally, nationally and globally.

it’s a reminder that every choice - from how we shop to how we travel, eat and support local ecosystems can make a difference.

How We Can Help

IPBES stresses that the assessment is not just for governments. Communities, businesses and individuals also have a role to play in protecting ecosystems and the species that rely on them.

“We aim to translate evidence about nature’s contributions into actionable insights for decision-making.” — Dr. Rebecca Chaplin-Kramer

The assessment will provide guidance on what’s working, what obstacles exist and how success can be replicated in other contexts. It will also help strengthen the science-policy interface, giving decision-makers the tools and knowledge to make informed choices:

The Second Global Assessment will assess relevant knowledge that has become available since the 2019 publication, and will explore progress towards achieving the range of global goals and targets relating to sustainability and living in harmony with nature in advance of the 2030 deadline for many of these commitments. The Second Global Assessment will also strengthen the science-policy interface on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people across a range of spatial scales, from local to global, by providing knowledge and evidence for better informed decision-making.

The Timeline

The first author meeting is planned for November 2025 in Paris, with a first draft of the report expected for open expert review in the first half of 2026. The full report will be published in 2028, offering a global roadmap to living more sustainably with nature.

The assessment will also highlight and synthesise the findings of prior IPBES assessments relating to the differing roles of a variety of actors and their value systems in delivering the building blocks for transformative change.

A Global Story of Hope

While the challenges are enormous, the Second Global Assessment represents collaboration, expertise and possibility. Scientists from across the globe are joining forces to deliver evidence that empowers decision-makers, communities and individuals to protect biodiversity.

“The Second Global Assessment will be one of the most complex, extensive and significant environmental assessments ever undertaken – with great relevance and value to decision makers around the world and in every context, for people and nature.” — Neville Ash

With the dedication of these co-chairs and their teams, the next chapter in global biodiversity conservation is already underway. And for all of us, it’s a reminder that every choice - from how we shop to how we travel, eat and support local ecosystems can make a difference.

Learn more about the IPBES Second Global Assessment: ipbes.net/second-global-assessment

Protecting Nature, Together: A Global Assessment