Halting and reversing biodiversity loss calls for ever more substantial efforts across the globe. There is broad consensus that transformative changes are needed. However, in the BIONEXT project we have learned that transformative change as a concept lacks concreteness. To deepen the understanding of the making of transformative change, we in the BIONEXT project have studied the options for change that evolve through bottom-up action.

To explore the role of businesses in combating biodiversity loss, we spoke with three experts – Martin Lok, Anna Chilton, and Katarzyna Dulko-Gaszyna – who are engaged in the business world, to hear their perspectives on the future and the vital role businesses play in shaping it.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will publish two significant assessments in December. To assist media coverage, we are providing a list of IPBES authors available for interviews regarding the nexus assessment and its European perspective.

For 2 weeks in October, COP16 took over Cali. While it has been hailed as a “historic” “people’s” COP, many have criticised the summit for falling short on agreements on finance and monitoring. But what actually were the key decisions made at COP16, and what could they mean for transformative change?

The recently adopted European Union (EU) Nature Restoration Regulation is a new legislative development that represents the first time that legally binding EU-wide restoration targets and objectives have been set.

Today, we are witnessing an alarming decline in global biodiversity: more than a million species are threatened with extinction and many critical ecosystems destroyed or severely degraded. Global ecosystem collapse may be closer than we think if we fail to mitigate these trends. The implications would be far-reaching and catastrophic, extending beyond ecological concerns. So how does biodiversity loss affect our society?

To halt or reverse biodiversity loss, it is critical to understand the role of biodiversity in food production and consumption, water quality and availability, climate regulation and mitigation, human and ecosystem health, energy production and means of transportation.

The European Commission funded the BIONEXT project with 4.1 million euros. We in the project asked the European Commission why the project was funded to shed light on the importance of the project. The answers were provided by our project officer Colombe Warin who works at the European Research Executive Agency (REA) as a project adviser.

We’ve read over 1,000 case studies related to biodiversity. Here’s what we’ve learnt so far.

2023 has so far been a year dominated by new climate records and extreme weather events such as extreme heat in southern Europe, flash floods in Hong Kong, Slovenia and Brazil, and the highest recorded global monthly average sea surface temperature in August (WMO, 2023). The list goes on.

We’re bringing together and analyzing case studies of real-world projects and initiatives that have delivered, or attempted to deliver, transformative change for biodiversity.

We are seeking examples of projects or initiatives that address biodiversity along with at least one of the following elements: water, food, energy, transport, climate, and/or health. Read this blog and complete a short form to submit your examples.

New research and innovation project BIONEXT creates novel science-based solutions and tools for halting biodiversity loss and achieving sustainable, nature-centered future and societies.