Naturmødet 2023 took place with the participation of IPBES in Denmark, which, over the course of three days, provided guests and visitors with insight into IPBES’s activities and focus areas from its booth in Hirtshals. Three topics were central to the conversations at the booth, including the valuation of biodiversity, which is the theme of the next symposium to be held in Copenhagen on June 16, 2023.
Once again this year, Hirtshals served as the setting for the “Nature’s People’s Assembly” over three sunny days from May 11–13, when nearly 35,000 visitors stopped by, setting a new attendance record. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen delivered this year’s opening address under the three-year theme “Bridge or Barrier?” kicking off three days of debates and lectures featuring politicians, researchers, organizations, businesses, and ordinary visitors of all ages.
Strong interest in IPBES’s work and activities
IPBES in Denmark was represented again this year, with the office’s coordinator, Lars Dinesen, welcoming visitors alongside Michella Molin. Among other topics, they discussed IPBES’s work on global consensus reports, which have proven to be of far-reaching significance as a knowledge base for political decision-making processes.
Read more about the global consensus reports from IPBES here
At the booth, visitors had the opportunity to learn more about how international efforts translate into a Danish context, including through symposia and the preparation of national expert reports outlining action plans for the restoration of marine biodiversity and terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystems.
Read more about the Danish IPBES publications here
Finally, many guests expressed interest in IPBES in Denmark’s educational materials for high schools, which were launched in 2022 with the aim of equipping the younger generation to better address one of the greatest challenges of our time —namely, the biodiversity crisis.
Read more about IPBES in Denmark’s educational materials here
There was considerable interest in the physical copies of the expert opinions and educational materials at the booth, and several items ended up being “sold out.” However, all publications and materials are available for free download on the website.
The Generation Gap in the Face of Radical Change
To what extent and in what form should agriculture play a role? And how do we rethink the value of biodiversity and economic growth? During the discussions, generational differences were highlighted when it came to meeting the need for a radical transformation, as indicated as necessary by the IPBES reports. This was particularly true when it came to the willingness to change dietary habits, set aside land for wildlife, or bring about economic change.
Several visitors described how they are now setting aside everything from small corners of their gardens to many hectares of land as wild nature on their country estates, or how younger people in particular are changing their diets to make more room for nature and biodiversity.
The Battle for the Spot
The debate on space and land use, in particular, was a key issue that has become especially relevant following the global summit on biodiversity in Montreal in December 2022. A key component of the EU’s 2030 targets is that 30% of Europe should be protected natural areas, including 10% under strict protection.
The Biodiversity Council has determined that Denmark is one of the EU countries with the least amount of effectively protected nature, and given current policy measures, it is doubtful whether Denmark will be able to meet these international obligations within the allotted timeframe. Recently, the government has also made efforts to relax the regulation on nature restoration—a move that has sparked criticism and heated debate—including during the Nature Summit.
It is precisely the issue of land use that IPBES in Denmark addressed during the most recent symposium on the role of biodiversity in the Danish agricultural landscape, “Land Sparing & Land Sharing,” held at the Moesgaard Museum in the fall of 2022, with participants including citizens, researchers, municipalities, and advocacy groups.
How Do We Place a Value on Biodiversity? New Symposium on June 16
The discussions on the value of biodiversity in Hirtshals tie directly into the upcoming IPBES symposium in Denmark on values, which is based on the global IPBES report on this very topic. No fewer than four authors of the global report—led by the report’s lead author, Professor Unai Pascaul—will be in Copenhagen to present the report’s findings and explain how these findings fit into the national agenda.
The symposium will be held at Thorvaldsensvej 40 in Frederiksberg, and on the Danish side, Professor Mette Termansen from the University of Copenhagen participated in the preparation of the global report. The symposium will bridge the gap between international and national presentations; in addition to Mette Termansen, Professor Jette Bredahl from the University of Copenhagen, and Signe Normand from Aarhus University, will discuss the work on a green gross domestic product and the efforts of the Biodiversity Council.
Finally, we also expect the European Environment Agency to participate and present its latest findings on growth without economic growth and the exploration of the fundamental changes needed in our relationship with nature. It will be an exciting day, featuring a panel discussion and a workshop that will lead to a national expert opinion from the Danish IPBES collaboration on the understanding of the values of biodiversity.
