In April 2012 the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was established. The members of the platform (IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body open to all member countries of the United Nations) are committed to building IPBES as the leading intergovernmental body for assessing the state of the planet's biodiversity, its ecosystems and the essential services they provide to society. The CBD COP provided the following guidance with regard to IPBES:

CBD COP decision XI/2, Review of progress in implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and related capacity-building support to Parties, paragraph 28:

The Conference of the Parties,

Invites the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, in cooperation with the Executive Secretary, to develop a work programme that includes the preparation of the next global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services, to be launched in 2018, focusing on status and trends, the impact of biodiversity and ecosystem services on human well-being, and the effectiveness of responses, including the Strategic Plan and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, building, inter alia, on its own and other relevant regional, subregional and thematic assessments, as well as on national reports, and requests the Executive Secretary to collaborate with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform, where relevant.

CBD COP decision XI/3, Monitoring progress in implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, Section C., Preparation of the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, paragraph 7:

The Conference of the Parties,

Requests the Executive Secretary to:

1. Continue collaborating with other biodiversity-related conventions and other relevant processes, including the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and other organizations and partners, including of indigenous and local communities, and to engage them in the preparations of the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, as appropriate and in accordance with their respective mandates;
2. Explore, with the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, options for the preparation of a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services, focusing on status and trends of biodiversity, their impacts on human wellbeing and the effectiveness of responses to biodiversity loss, and progress towards the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, including its implications for future editions of Global Biodiversity Outlook, and report on progress to a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;

CBD COP decision XI/13, Ways and means to improve the effectiveness of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and collaboration with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, section C, Collaboration with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, paragraph 4:

The Conference of the Parties,

Requests the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services to consider ways in which the activities of the Platform could, as appropriate:

1. Build on, and contribute to, the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook;
2. Contribute to assessments of the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; and
3. Provide information on policy options available to deliver the 2050 Vision of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.