Interconnected Crises, Integrated Solutions: Politics Must Act!

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has just presented its new Nexus Assessment. The assessment highlights the close connections between global crises and calls on policymakers to adopt an integrated approach to problem-solving.

Jutta Paulus, environmental spokesperson for The Greens/EFA in the European Parliament, comments:

“We urgently need to end silo thinking in politics! This is the conclusion of the new Nexus Assessment by IPBES. Biodiversity loss, the climate crisis, and risks to our food security and health all influence and exacerbate one another. Our policies can no longer afford to ignore these interconnections!

Here’s an example: When more soy is grown for animal feed to produce cheaper meat, it often leads to the destruction of valuable forests. This not only threatens the climate and biodiversity but also deteriorates water quality and increases the risk of new diseases that can more easily spread to humans and livestock due to habitat destruction.

That’s why we need a shift in thinking: Instead of working in isolated silos, policymakers must finally listen to science and understand the interconnected nature of global crises.

Solutions like restoring peatlands, promoting natural reforestation, and supporting regional, sustainable food systems demonstrate that it is possible to protect the climate, biodiversity, and health simultaneously. These approaches are more efficient and cost-effective than repairing the damage later. In this way, we not only protect nature but also secure our own livelihoods and economic foundations.”