Among the top global sustainability awards, the Blue Planet Prize is awarded annually to individuals and organizations to recognize outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application, which have helped provide solutions to global environmental problems. The prize includes an award of US$500,000.
As one of the 2024 laureates, the prize acknowledges IPBES as “the leading global authority on the state of knowledge and science about biodiversity, ecosystem services and nature’s contributions to people”, highlighting the crucial role that IPBES has played in informing and shaping environmental policies and action.
Making the announcement, Takuya Shimamura, Chair of the Asahi Glass Foundation, said: “The work of IPBES is central to the international efforts and negotiations under a range of multilateral processes and organizations – especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).”
In selecting IPBES, the Board of Directors of the Asahi Glass Foundation noted that IPBES assessment reports “facilitate better science-informed policy and action across scales, sectors, and knowledge systems. As growing numbers of companies also start to evaluate, disclose and improve their impact on the environment, businesses are also using the IPBES reports to help shape their corporate sustainability strategies and ESG activities.”
Welcoming the announcement, IPBES Chair Dr. David Obura said: “The entire IPBES community is deeply honored by this tremendous accolade. It recognizes the invaluable work of thousands of IPBES scientists and knowledge-holders, including Indigenous and local communities, and the contributions they continue to make towards achieving our most important global development goals, especially through implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (known as the Biodiversity Plan).”
Also reacting to the announcement, IPBES Executive Secretary Dr. Anne Larigauderie said: “We thank the Asahi Glass Foundation for this expression of support for our work. Policies and actions are most effective when grounded in the best available science, and have the greatest adaptability to dynamic conditions, ensuring long-term sustainability. The expertise and evidence that IPBES provides helps all decision makers to better understand the deeply complex, but vitally important challenges facing biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people.”
Larigauderie continued: “The name of the Blue Planet Prize was inspired by the words of the first human in space, Yuri Gagarin, who said “the Earth is blue”. Seen from space, the Earth is fragile and small – worth protecting and preserving. The work of IPBES offers everyone a chance to really see our natural world from a different set of perspectives – based on evidence, knowledge and expertise from every corner of our ‘pale blue dot’. It will be our honour to receive this prize on behalf of all IPBES experts, our 146 member States and the very engaged IPBES stakeholder community.”
The Award Ceremony will take place on 23 October 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. A series of related events and commemorative lectures will take place in both Tokyo and Kyoto.
The other 2024 laureate is Prof. Robert Costanza, from the Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London, who has been recognized for his foundational contributions to the field of ecological economics.
Past winners include prominent figures in the field of conservation and sustainable development, as well as some scientists closely associated with the work of IPBES, such as Sir Robert Watson, who served as IPBES Chair from 2016 to 2019.
The press release from the Asahi Glass Foundation and photos of the recipients are available at www.af-info.or.jp/en.
Note
About IPBES:
Often described as the “IPCC for biodiversity”, IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body comprising more than 145 member Governments. Established by Governments in 2012, it provides policymakers with objective scientific assessments about the state of knowledge regarding the planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems and the contributions they make to people, as well as the tools and methods to protect and sustainably use these vital natural assets. For more information about IPBES and its assessments visit www.ipbes.net
Video introduction to IPBES: www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOiGio7YU-M
