By Dave Stone, JNCC Chief Scientist
Our latest blog post is from Dave Stone, our Chief Scientist. On the eve of IPBES-12, he looks at the importance of the year 2026 and the landmark events that will be held.
Nature underpins our lives, our economy, life as we know it. From the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe – all of it relies on healthy ecosystems. Yet nature continues to decline at an alarming rate. 2026 offers a critical opportunity to change course, with a series of landmark international events that will shape the future of nature recovery for decades to come.
At JNCC, we're at the heart of the UK's response to this global challenge. This year, our work will help demonstrate what the UK is doing to protect and restore nature – and where we need to go further.
What's happening in 2026?
The year begins in earnest with IPBES-12, the 12th plenary session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, being held in the UK in Manchester from 3 to 8 February. Think of IPBES as the 'IPCC for nature' – it brings together the world's leading scientists to assess the state of biodiversity and provide governments with the evidence they need to act.
This year's meeting will focus on a ground-breaking Business and Biodiversity Assessment. For the first time, this assessment will systematically examine how businesses both impact and depend on nature. This is critical recognition that nature isn't separate from the economy – it's the foundation of it. JNCC supports the UK Government in reviewing and accepting IPBES assessments, ensuring that the best available science informs policy decisions.
The year culminates in October with CBD COP 17 – the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity – in Armenia. This is the moment when countries must demonstrate what they've achieved since agreeing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022.
The UK's progress report
The Global Biodiversity Framework set out 23 ambitious targets for 2030, covering everything from protecting 30% of land and sea to reducing pollution and tackling invasive species. Countries committed to these targets, and now they must show what progress they've made.
JNCC has responsibility for compiling the UK's 7th National Report – the UK’s formal assessment of progress against the 23 targets. This isn't simply a tick-box exercise. It's an honest appraisal of where we're succeeding, where we're falling short, and what needs to change.
We're working closely with the other Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies across the UK – Natural England, NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency – as well as the UK Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. Together, we're building a complete picture of nature recovery across the whole UK family.
This collaborative approach matters. Nature doesn't respect administrative boundaries. Species migrate, ecosystems connect, and the challenges we face – from climate change to habitat loss – require coordinated responses. The UK Overseas Territories, in particular, are home to extraordinary biodiversity found nowhere else on Earth. Their contributions to global conservation are immense, and their inclusion in our national reporting reflects that importance.
Why business must be part of the solution
Many industries rely on functioning ecosystems, agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, pharmaceuticals, to name a few. Yet until recently, business has often been absent from conversations about nature.
That's changing. The IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment is a signal that the world recognises business as both a driver of nature loss and a vital partner in nature recovery. Many global businesses are starting to understand their dependencies on nature and the risks ecosystem collapse poses to their business. They are starting to take steps to reduce their impacts and secure sustainable ecosystems – they will be better placed to thrive in a changing world.
JNCC is working with Defra and UK Research and Innovation to host events alongside IPBES-12, bringing together policymakers, scientists and business leaders. We're also planning a biodiversity and business summit with the UK Business and Biodiversity Forum ahead of COP17. These gatherings will explore practical ways for businesses to integrate nature into their decision-making, from supply chains to investment strategies.
A new way of talking about nature
One of the challenges in conservation has been communication. Too often, the case for nature has been made in technical language that doesn't resonate with people outside the environmental sector. As I have done here – we talk about ecosystem services, biodiversity metrics and conservation designations – important concepts, but not always accessible ones.
That's why JNCC has developed a new Nature Narrative – a clear, compelling way of explaining why nature matters to everyone. It focuses on what people care about: food security, clean water, health and wellbeing, livelihoods and economic prosperity. Nature isn't a luxury or a nice-to-have. It's critical infrastructure underpinning our lives.
The more consistently we communicate the value of nature in terms people understand, the more support we'll build for the actions needed to protect it.
What comes next
Progress has been made: on land and at sea restoration projects are underway; awareness of the nature crisis has never been higher. But we're not on track to meet the 2030 targets. The gap between ambition and action remains significant.
2026 gives us a chance to be honest about that gap and recommit to a shared ambition, building the coalitions needed to deliver it. Governments cannot do this alone. Businesses, communities, landowners and individuals all have roles to play.
At JNCC, we'll continue to provide the best available evidence, the expertise and the international engagement that the UK needs to play its part. The events of 2026 will set the direction for years to come. Let's make them count.
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