Roadmap to COP 15: Timeline of key milestones
Due to the novel COVID-19 pandemic, many key events on the local and subnational Roadmap to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) are continuously modifying their dates and methods of delivery. An updated timeline, with the most recent event dates and details can be seen below:
Key Updates
Recapping CBD SBI-3 Informal Session (8-14 March)
The Informal Session in Preparation for the Third Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3) took place from 8 – 14 March. The virtual informal meeting in preparation for SBI-3 aimed to contribute to maintaining momentum and advancing the preparations for COP 15. It included interventions on the pre-session documents for agenda items of SBI-3. There were no negotiations at this session and therefore, no formal substantive outcomes, decisions or conference room papers from the meeting.
The CBD/SBI/3/19 document on Engagement with Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities to Enhance the Implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework was tabled at the Informal Session of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3) on 11 March. The document was introduced by the UK and the EU read by (Portugal), Mexico and Singapore were among the Parties that made supportive statements to the call for a renewed decision and more ambitious Plan of Action on subnational & local governments. This document is a significant milestone in advocating a more ambitious and active role for local and subnational governments in achieving the objectives of the CBD and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
Read the CBD/SBI/3/19 document
Read the supportive statement by Singapore
Read the supportive statement by the UK
Read the statement by Portugal on behalf of the EU
The Informal Session dealt with several agenda items that are relevant to local and subnational governments, such as resource mobilization, capacity building, planning, reporting and review, and mainstreaming biodiversity.
Agenda Item 6 – Resource mobilization and the financial mechanism
A joint statement reflecting the perspective from local and subnational governments was read by ICLEI on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Regions4 and the Government of Québec, the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the European Committee of the Regions, and the Edinburgh Process Partners.
Agenda Item 7 – Capacity-building, technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer, knowledge management, and communication
A joint statement, reflecting the local and subnational governments’ perspective, was read by Regions4 on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Regions4 and the Government of Québec, the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the European Committee of the Regions, and the Edinburgh Process Partners.
Agenda Item 9 – Options to enhance planning, reporting, and review mechanisms with a view to strengthening the implementation of the Convention
A joint statement read by the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (GoLS) on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Regions4 and the Government of Québec, GoLS, the European Committee of the Regions, and the Edinburgh Process Partners, reflected the local and subnational government perspectives..
Agenda Item 11 – Mainstreaming of biodiversity within and across sectors and other strategic actions to enhance implementation
A joint statement, reflecting local and subnational governments’ perspectives’, was read by GoLS on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, coordinated by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, Regions4 and the Government of Québec, the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the European Committee of the Regions, and the Edinburgh Process Partners.
Opportunities to get involved
ICLEI World Congress
Structured as a two-part event, the first part will be a virtual event held on 13-15 April, with the second part taking place in the second quarter of 2022. Part 1 will primarily serve as the occasion to present ICLEI’s newly elected governance bodies, launch the ICLEI Malmö Strategy and Action Plan, and hold a limited number of high-level events with a focus on ICLEI’s 5 pathways, the contribution of local and regional governments to the UN Decade of Action on Sustainable Development (2021 – 2030) and showcasing our host city of Malmö.
A high-level virtual dialogue on ‘Engaging Cities and Regions in the Global Nature Agenda’ is scheduled for 14 April. This dialogue will bring together subnational governments and cities from the global north and south and will address how they can contribute directly to achieving global biodiversity targets as the local and landscape level. The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity will deliver a keynote address.
Register for the Virtual launch
Learn more about the high-level session
Save the Date: Register for ICLEI CBC’s next webinar
ICLEI continues to host its monthly Post-2020 webinar series to keep our constituency of cities and regions up to date on the unfolding participatory process on the roadmap to CBD COP 15.
Our upcoming webinar on 1 April is titled ‘What’s business doing for biodiversity?’ and aims to unpack what the business sector is doing for nature and how these actions can benefit local action for biodiversity. Register for the time slot that suits you best below:
Transforming Agri-Food Systems for Biodiversity webinar
The Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support project will host a webinar on 13 April, under the patronage of the co-Chairs of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, to explore pathways for convergence between the agri-food systems and biodiversity agendas, in light of CBD COP15 and the UN Food Systems Summit.
IUCN Global Youth Summit
Taking place a few months before the IUCN World Conservation Congress, the Global Youth Summit will enable young people from around the world to connect, exchange ideas and experiences.
The virtual IUCN ‘One Nature, One Future’ Global Youth Summit takes place from 5 – 16 April. The Summit aims to strengthen connections between young leaders and their existing global networks, encourage interdisciplinary learning, provide a space for broader storytelling on conservation, and add momentum to growing youth movements for nature and climate.
Webinar on other effective area-based conservation measures
A webinar on “Introduction to Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) for Mexico, Central and South America”, is being jointly organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature – World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN-WCPA) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, for CBD Parties, relevant organizations and indigenous peoples and local communities. It will take place on 13 April 2021, at 9:00-10:30 a.m. (GMT-5).
COVID-19
ICLEI is collecting resources that can be useful and inspiring for local and subnational governments. Click here to see the dedicated webpage, and click here to access a collection of relevant blog posts.
The generous support from the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU Support project, the INTERACT-Bio project, and CitiesWithNature partners and cities, has contributed to this email update.
