Statement read by a Regions4 Sustainable Development delegated speaker on behalf of subnational and local authorities at the Special joint session of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and Subsidiary Body on Implementation
Friday, 18 September 2020
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, the Group of Leading Subnational Governments for Sustainability toward Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the European Committee of the Regions.
We congratulate the Secretariat for continuously seeking to adapt these important dialogues to the world’s challenging situation. We acknowledge the great foundation provided in the Updated Zero Draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and we would like to invite you to consider the role of subnational and local governments in its development and implementation.
For the past few months, our organizations have actively engaged in the Edinburgh Process for Subnational and Local Governments on the Development of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Led by the Scottish Government, this process has engaged governments from all over the world that are deeply concerned about the impacts of the loss of biodiversity on our livelihoods and communities.
Joining our voices with like-minded delegates in the Edinburgh Declaration, has been very enlightening because it has allowed us to see the impact of the decade-long Plan of Action included in Decision X/22.
We strongly support the call for action included in this Declaration and recall that we stand ready to meet the challenges that we face today to deliver the post-2020 framework from our positions and to overcome the consequences of the global pandemic. Specifically, we call on Parties to adopt a new dedicated Decision at COP15, which builds upon and renews Decision X/22 and the Plan of Action, and significantly raises ambition for subnational and local actions towards implementing the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
We invite you to reach out to your subnational and regional governments and invite them to join us in our efforts. We know that the only way to reach the vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’ is to work side by side to achieve the transformative actions that are so needed.
We look forward to discussing these points further and continuing the good work together.
Thank you.