On 17 November 2025, NetworkNature, BioAgora, CO-OP4CBD, and RESPIN joined forces to co-organise the UNFCCC COP30 side event “Science-Policy for Biodiversity & Climate: Experiences from Europe, Latin America & Africa” in Belém, Brazil. The session gathered experts from Europe, Latin America, Africa, and international institutions to explore how stronger science-policy interfaces (SPIs) can improve the integration of biodiversity into climate policy across regions.
The event opened with presentations from contributing projects and initiatives, showcasing European initiatives working to bridge science, knowledge, and policy processes. The agenda featured contributions from Josie Antonucci (BioAgora / HIFMB), Anna de las Heras Carles (REPSIN project, CREAF), Carlos Hernández (REPSIN project, Instituto Alexander von Humboldt), and Kaisa Mustajärvi (NetworkNature, City of Tampere), followed by a panel discussion facilitated by Alicia Pérez-Porro (CREAF).
Key Insights
Drawing from the event discussions, the official report highlights several overarching messages relevant to strengthening SPIs in support of biodiversity and climate action:
- National Focal Points (NFPs) are essential connectors - strengthening their mandate and resources is crucial for coordination among institutions and across levels of governance;
- Institutional fragmentation remains a major barrier - aligning climate and biodiversity communities requires deliberate cross-sector collaboration mechanisms;
- SPIs take many forms - countries employ varied models - from national platforms and scientific councils to inter-ministerial bodies - reflecting different governance contexts;
- Biodiversity must be integrated with ecosystem services and nature’s contributions to people. This is especially important for climate resilience and adaptation.
- Indigenous and local knowledge is essential - speakers highlighted its value for monitoring, long-term environmental understanding, and place-based decision-making.
- Science must be usable, accessible, and aligned with policy cycles - many decisions still proceed without scenario-based evidence due to gaps in communication or data usability.
- Clear mandates for SPIs are critical - without institutionalisation and political support, the impact and sustainability of SPIs remain limited.
Despite regional differences, participants agreed that countries face shared challenges: fragmented governance, insufficient coordination, and the need for better integration of science and Indigenous knowledge into policymaking. The event underscored that effective SPIs must foster continuous, bidirectional dialogue, ensuring not only that science informs policy, but also that policy needs shape scientific research.
By bringing together these diverse regional perspectives at COP30, the projects demonstrated the value of inclusive, co-produced knowledge, and affirmed Europe’s commitment to strengthening the biodiversity-climate nexus worldwide.
Read more about the event here.
