News Excerpt:
The Asahi Glass Foundation in Japan has announced that the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is one of the two recipients of the 2024 Blue Planet Prize.
About IPBES:
- The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body established by states to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services.
- IPBES was established in Panama City on April 21, 2012, by 94 governments and now includes over 145 member states, with India being a founding member.
- Its mission is to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, ensure long-term human well-being, and support sustainable development.
- Although not a United Nations body, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) provides secretariat services to IPBES.
- The IPBES Secretariat is located in Bonn, Germany, and the IPBES Plenary, the governing body composed of representatives from member states, meets annually.
About Robert Costanza:
- The other laureate is Robert Costanza from the Institute for Global Prosperity, University College London, recognized for his foundational contributions to ecological economics.
- In a groundbreaking 1997 paper, Costanza and colleagues highlighted that the ecosystem services provided by nature far exceed the economic value of the world’s GDP at the time, bringing significant attention to the importance of ecosystem services.
- As a co-founder of ecological economics, Costanza advocates for an ecologically sustainable society that promotes well-being.
About the Blue Planet Prize:
- Established in 1992, the year of the Earth Summit, the Blue Planet Prize by the Asahi Glass Foundation is one of the top global sustainability awards.
- It recognizes outstanding achievements in scientific research and its application to address global environmental problems.
- The prize aims to encourage efforts to heal the Earth’s fragile environment.
- Named after Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin’s remark, "the Earth is blue," the prize solicits nominations worldwide between August and October, with two recipients typically chosen each year.
- Each recipient receives a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy, and $500,000 in prize money.
