If we are to tackle the biodiversity crisis, we need to adopt a completely different approach from the one we have used so far. Transformative change, and the seeds of such change, was the focus of a conference at the University of Copenhagen. 23 September, 2024. Read more and see the slides of the conference presentations below.
If we want to solve the biodiversity crisis, it requires profound— or transformative — change. This demands doing things in ways that are radically different, rather than simply adjusting existing practices by doing a bit more or a bit less. Alongside the climate crisis and the pollution crisis, the biodiversity crisis calls for a fundamental shift in values and ways of thinking than we are used to.
IPBES defines transformative change as the need for fundamental and sweeping changes across our economy, society and the environment. Transformative Change is the theme of the upcoming global consensus report from IPBES, which will be presented in Namibia in December 2024.
On the 23rd of September, the University of Copenhagen hosted the conference ‘Transformative Change and Ecosystem Services,’ organised by the Danish Network on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in collaboration with IPBES in Denmark and the EU research project SELINA.
On this day, participants, together with researchers and experts, gained insight into how existing projects and initiatives can support and inspire transformative change, and what is needed overall to bring about such a change. There was also a focus on how this process can be accelerated, encompassing both biodiversity and ecosystem services, including those related to areas such as climate.
Global perspectives and transformative visions
To set the scene, Dr. Ir. Dieter Cuypers from Belgium, project leader in the EU project SELINA, gave a presentation on what transformative change means, why it is necessary, and, last but not least, the expertise and knowledge required to successfully bring about such change.
Transformative change was the key course of action put forward by the 2019 IPBES global assessment. In order to solve the biodiversity crisis and the related crises, societies around the world must undergo a transition based on the identification of, and change through, so-called leverage points within society.
If this sounds like a paradigm shift and an enormous challenge, that is correctly understood. Lars Dinesen, coordinator of the Danish IPBES office, subsequently provided the conference participants with an introduction to transformative change from the IPBES perspective, drawing on experiences and insights from IPBES’ global science-policy work and its connections to national activities.
For example, how can it be assessed whether projects and activities align with the concept of transformative change or have transformative potential, so that we can begin to develop a shared understanding of what this takes?
As a representative of the youth, Astrid Blom from the Green Youth Movement was invited to share the movement’s perspectives and political work on manifestos concerning, among other things, “sustainable agriculture” and “just nature conservation.” In this context, Astrid Blom emphasised the importance of visualising utopias — imagining what the vision of a better future might look like — as a way to foster motivation, optimism, and to insist on a better future. One of several concrete proposals was the idea of introducing a green form of national service.
Local perspectives and nature restoration
In the second part of the conference, the focus shifted to the presentation of specific Danish projects.
Professor Henrik Vejre from the University of Copenhagen and Mathias Utoft Jørgensen from Silkeborg Municipality presented the pilot project aimed at developing a comprehensive plan for the Gudenå River Valley. The project involves both private and public stakeholders and focuses on biodiversity, climate, hydrology, water quality, and outdoor recreation.
Lars Malmborg, from the Aage V. Jensen Nature Foundation, then presented the foundation’s work to secure and restore natural values and biodiversity on some of the foundation’s land. The Aage V. Jensen Nature Foundation is Denmark’s largest private landowner, and the key action is the restoration of natural hydrology and natural dynamics on the foundation’s land and create a coherent management plan with the protection and improvement of biodiversity as the main focus.
Finally, Jannik Seslef, project manager at Assens Municipality, shared his and the municipality’s experiences of working with stakeholders in wetland projects and changing the landscape through collaboration and selection projects. The focus is very much on making change happen while ensuring that local communities understand and see their benefits and opportunities. A specific case is the Holmehave nature project, where the various local and overarching interests need to be carefully weighed and balanced.
Inspiration from SELINA
The EU project SELINA (Science for Evidence-based and Sustainable Decisions aboutNatural Capital) is an international and interdisciplinary project spanning across 31 partner countries, launched with the aim of supporting stakeholders from both the private and public sectors with evidence-based knowledge, guidelines and recommendations to achieve transformative societal change within the framework of the EU Green Deal and the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030.
Erling Andersen from the University of Copenhagen presented cases from the SELINA project together with Inge Liekens, environmental economist and researcher at VITO, Belgium. The conference concluded with the participants being invited to take part in a “World Café” with roundtable discussions on ideas, opportunities and barriers to transformative change.
The results will be included in an upcoming meeting of the Danish Network on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
Find the presentation slides from the conference here: IPBES in Denmark – Knowledge sharing
