Consultation on a new international mechanism of scientific expertise on biodiversity - IMoSEB

The idea that a new inter-governmental body is needed to improve scientific advise on biodiversity, was introduced by the French president Jaques Chirac at a scientific conference in Paris in 2005. The French government stands behind the global consultation that was launched in February 2006, with the formation of an international steering committee for the process.

The consultation on the need for an international mechanism of scientific expertise on biodiversity (IMoSEB) will investigate how our ability to predict changes in biodiversity might be improved, as well as our assessments of the consequences of predicted changes.

The leading proponents of the IMoSEB point to the International Panel on Climate Change, and argue that a similar mechanism is needed for biodiversity. During the consultation so far, others have argued that biodiversity is more complex than climate change, and that an international biodiversity panel should be organised in order to treat the issue at several scales. It has also been pointed out that biodiversity loss is a social phenomenon, and that a broad and inter-disciplinary approach is needed.

Sweden is active in the international steering committee, through its government's scientific council on biological diversity. The council has not yet decided on any suggestion, but it shares the view of the steering committee, that the scientific basis for decisions and actions will need to improve. The council has emphasised the need for strengthening research capacity in developing countries. It has also argued that scientific independence will need to be combined with a political ownership, if the proposed new body is going to have a significant impact. This means that there should be a political consensus on which issues the IMoSEB will address, and that participants may have to be chosen, in part based on geographic or political representativity. The council has also emphasised the need for relevant social and human sciences.

More information

The IMoSEB web site contains documentation, time schedules and a discussion forum which is open for everyone.

The secretariat of the CBD presented a report on the IMoSEB consultation at the eight conference of the parties in 2006.

In July 2006, leading proponents argued for the need for an IMoSEB in the journal Nature. Read the press release.