Biodiversity and climate: from a double crisis to a shared challenge

The growing convergence between the climate and biodiversity agendas is not only a reality, but also good news, as both areas are increasingly addressed in a complementary manner. Like two sides of the same coin, advancing climate action and halting and reversing biodiversity loss requires addressing these two areas of knowledge in a coordinated manner and fostering a robust, evidence-based dialogue.

To support science-based policymaking in this evolving context, CREAF has produced two separate but complementary reports: one is the CREAF's assessment of the 12th plenary session of IPBES (on the meeting held in February 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom) and the other is the CREAF's analysis of COP30 (on the conference held in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil). Both documents examine how both processes contribute to a more integrated framework for biodiversity and climate, with a shared analytical perspective that addresses them as fully interconnected challenges.

As an overview, below is a summary of the key messages from the reports.

The political outcome of the 12th plenary session of IPBES is defined by three structural trends:

Priority was given to meeting deadlines and the impact of ongoing work, rather than initiating accelerated additional evaluations. Financial uncertainty reinforced the message that careful planning and a clear strategy were needed. The mid-term review of the work programme placed more emphasis on results, implementation and long-term impact than on institutional expansion.

Biodiversity governance is no longer seen as a purely scientific issue, but a practical challenge that requires coordination across different domains. IPBES is gradually changing its approach to knowledge production to ensure that it informs public policy. The plenary session highlighted the importance of strengthening capacities, developing policy tools and making better use of assessment results at all levels of governance.

The 12th IPBES confirmed the growing alignment between biodiversity and climate processes under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The upcoming IPBES and IPCC workshop on biodiversity and climate, to be held in Switzerland in 2026, is a step forward towards institutionalized scientific collaboration.

In addition, our report on COP30 identifies the following key conclusions:

1. The 59 Adaptation Indicators of Belém adopted

• First shared benchmark to track progress towards the Global Adaptation Goal.
• Organized into seven thematic areas (water, food and agriculture, health, ecosystems, infrastructure, livelihoods, cultural heritage) and four stages of the adaptation cycle (risk assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring).
• Useful for structuring information on adaptation at all levels of governance.
• Some indicators need clearer definitions and methodologies.
• Countries agreed to refine them through the Belém-Addis Vision, with a review planned before the next Global Stocktake.

2. Updated guidance on national adaptation plans

• It reaffirms key principles, such as participatory and gender-sensitive approaches, indigenous knowledge, and science-based planning, among others.
• It acknowledges persistent challenges, such as limited funding and gaps in institutional and technical capacity to monitor climate information.
• Independent observers pointed to other concerns, such as the risks of maladaptation and strict limits on adaptation in vulnerable regions.

3. The Mutirão package: political impetus for implementation

• Strengthen the focus on implementing climate measures rather than expanding negotiations.
• It keeps adaptation very visible within global climate policy.
• Encourages efforts to at least triple adaptation financing by 2035.
• Position the Global Implementation Accelerator to support cooperation and knowledge exchange.

4. Context on financing adaptation

• The Adaptation Fund received $127.9 million in commitments, well below its annual target.
• Governance issues remain unresolved.
• Broader financial challenges persist.
• The Baku to Belém Roadmap outlines the process towards the new global climate finance goal (NCQG) to be adopted at COP31.