Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) established

The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), which was established yesterday, is a new international body that will help catalyze a global response to the loss of biodiversity and recognize the the economic importance of forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems. Its creation sets up an IPCC-like platform to bridge the gulf between the wealth of scientific  knowledge on the accelerating declines and degradation of the natural world, with knowledge on effective solutions and decisive government action required to reverse these damaging trends. For more info, click here.