The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released its Nexus Assessment report, emphasizing the interdependence of biodiversity loss, climate change, and human health crises. The report, based on inputs from 165 experts, was approved in Windhoek, Namibia, and stresses that these issues must be tackled together.

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• Biodiversity loss, climate change, and health crises are interdependent, compounding impacts on human well-being.
• Root causes include GDP growth, overconsumption, pollution, land use changes, and invasive species.
• The report outlines 71 policy response options, grouped into 10 categories like conserving ecosystems, sustainable consumption, reducing pollution, and risk management.
• Fragmented governance across biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate intensifies environmental crises.
• Over 58% of infectious diseases are worsened by climate hazards, including malaria, dengue, and Zika.
• Half of the global GDP ($58 trillion in 2023) depends on nature; damaging activities cost $5.3 trillion/year.
• Healthy ecosystems like mangroves and forests mitigate climate change, control diseases, and sustain diets.
• Delayed climate action increases competition for land, impacting food, water, and biodiversity.
• Indigenous knowledge is crucial for solutions; protecting their rights supports biodiversity and global health.
• Public subsidies for damaging sectors total $1.7 trillion/year, urging better integration of policies.