The 12th Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-12) will be hosted in Manchester this February, with almost a thousand delegates expected to attend from over one hundred countries from 3 to 8 February.
As an independent intergovernmental body, IPBES aims to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services and is a leading voice in this area.
To mark this year's meeting being held in Manchester, The University of Manchester, the University of Salford and Manchester Metropolitan University will present a special evening event at the People's History Museum on Thursday, 5 February supported by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
The event will bring together academics, businesses and community organisations, as well as policymakers and regional leaders, to explore opportunities for collaboration to boost nature recovery across Greater Manchester and beyond. Focusing on Business and Biodiversity, the event will also highlight the crucial role industry, research and policy must play together in this endeavour.
The joint project aligns with the refreshed civic mission announced last year, which saw all Greater Manchester universities reaffirm their collective commitment to improving lives across the city-region as part of the Greater Manchester Civic University Agreement (CUA).
Featuring talks from all three universities and a panel Q&A session, senior representatives are expected to take part from the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and DEFRA - with more to be announced.
Professor Simon Green, PVC Research and Knowledge Exchange at the University of Salford said: "Sustainability is at the core of what we do at Salford. Our goal is to innovate towards a more equitable, just, healthy, creative and prosperous society. This event will be a great chance to put those ambitions into practice and share knowledge and expertise across the region and country."
PVC for Research at Manchester Metropolitan University, Professor Nick Brook, said: "With sector-leading Carbon Literacy training, consistently top People & Planet rankings, and Professor Liz Price's UN SDG 12 Vice-Chair leadership, Manchester Met is shaping global sustainability practice while driving research-led solutions that support nature recovery and stronger communities across Greater Manchester."
Tickets for the evening event, 'From evidence to action: Mobilising Greater Manchester's science, business and policy partnerships for nature' are available via Eventbrite.
