Statement by Regions4
SBI-3 Informal Session, 10 March 2021
Agenda item 7 Capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer, knowledge management, and communication
Honorable Chairs, Co-chairs and distinguished delegates,
I am taking the floor on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, coordinated by Regions4 and the Government of Québec, ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the European Committee of the Regions, and on behalf of the Edinburgh Process Partners.
Our constituency is glad to see that the draft long-term strategic framework for capacity development to support the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be considered by the SBI-3, is inclusive and recognizes the relevance of subnational and local governments throughout the text and in particular, in the sections III. Guiding Principles for Effective Capacity Development and V. Mechanism for Implementation. Both sections reflect the core elements of the strategic framework and the key involvement of subnational and local governments is pertinent and clear.
We believe that the draft long-term strategic framework sufficiently covers the main areas that would help our constituencies catalyze and galvanize transformative action to support the implementation of the post-2020 global framework. Overall, the proposed structure is clear and comprehensive, however we believe that it would be valuable to consider including a timeframe aligned with the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, in particular the 2030 vision.
Developing dedicated subnational and local capacity development strategies, with specific targets, milestones and indicators to be reached within the period of the post-2020 GBF and aligned with national and regional plans and programmes could also boost knowledge creation and can potentially increase our chances of achieving the new global biodiversity targets.
We, subnational and local leaders, have partnerships and networks in place to further promote north-south, south-south and triangular cooperation therefore we would like to propose to build on what we have achieved and support those learning platforms that are in place to strengthen information exchange and capacity building from global to local levels of government . The Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments to the CBD, its operational partners the Regions4 Biodiversity Learning Platform and the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, as well as the ICLEI CitiesWithNature online platform and the Edinburgh Process partnership that includes the European Committee of the Regions, are ready to -with your support- strengthen the mechanisms for implementation.
Our networks and platforms have been facilitating dialogue and cooperation across the different levels of government and are, more than ever, willing to continue to support national efforts for capacity development and facilitate the integration of local actors, we therefore encourage the Parties to the Convention to urge their subnational and local governments to join us in this collective effort.
Finally, we welcome our recognition and suggest going further by inviting the Parties to the Convention to provide the financial means to materialize the implementation of the long-term strategic framework at the subnational and local level. We also ask Parties to call upon your own subnational and local leaders to become part of our networks and play an active role in closing the capacity gap.
Thank you.