What major assessment by the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) in February 2026 warned that biodiversity decline is now a systemic risk to global economies?

The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released its "Business and Biodiversity Assessment" in February 2026, a landmark report that unequivocally warned of biodiversity decline as a systemic risk to global economies. This assessment, formally known as the "Methodological Assessment of the Impact and Dependence of Business on Biodiversity and Nature's Contributions to People," was approved by representatives from over 150 governments during the twelfth session of the IPBES Plenary. Its findings underscored that the accelerating loss of biodiversity is not merely an environmental concern but a critical threat to financial stability, global economic systems, and human well-being.

IPBES often referred to as the "IPCC for biodiversity," serves as the leading intergovernmental body assessing the state of the planet's biodiversity and ecosystem services. It provides policymakers with objective scientific assessments to inform decisions on the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. This particular assessment, a culmination of three years of work by 79 experts from 35 countries, delved into how businesses both rely on and impact nature, and how existing governance systems shape these interactions.

The report highlighted that all businesses, regardless of their size, sector, or location, are dependent on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems for everything from raw materials and supply chains to climate resilience and clean water. Critically, the assessment exposed a stark financial imbalance: an estimated $7.3 trillion per year in financial flows currently drive biodiversity loss, while only about $220 billion is invested in conservation and restoration efforts. It emphasized that voluntary corporate actions alone are insufficient to reverse the trend, stressing the vital role of public policy, regulations, economic incentives, and financial systems in fostering a transformative change where business success aligns with protecting and restoring nature.