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
The Edinburgh Process: An Update on the Edinburgh Declaration and CBD webinar
The Edinburgh Declaration for subnational governments, cities and local authorities on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, is now available to access and is open for signature by subnational and local governments and networks, supportive organizations and supportive national governments up to COP 15. The Declaration sets out the aspirations and commitments of the Scottish Government, Edinburgh Process partners, and the wider subnational constituency of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in delivering for nature over the coming decade. To read the Declaration and find out how to sign it, click here.
The Secretariat to the Convention on Biological Diversity hosted a webinar on 23 September on the outcomes of the Edinburgh Process on the role of subnational governments and local authorities in the post 2020 global biodiversity framework.
Watch the webinar recordings (AM and PM sessions)
Nature For Life Hub
To coincide with the 75th UN General Assembly and the UN Biodiversity Summit, the UNDP and partners held a four-day “Nature for Life Hub” virtual event where global leaders shared stories and commitments for nature. Cities were profiled by Deputy Mayor Rodrigues from London and Alderman Limberg from Cape Town on the value of nature in achieving the SDGS; Mayor Valerie Plante, ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity, profiled cities’ vision for taking local action in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; Deputy Mayor Ristani from Tirana profiled her cities’ plans for a green recovery and advancing inclusive green new deals; and Kobie Brand, ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center Global Director introduced the global audience to CitiesWithNature.
Learn more about the Nature for Life Hub
Watch the recordings from Days 1 – 4
United Nations Summit on Biodiversity
Governments at all levels have witnessed the important relationship between people and nature, and we are more than ever reminded that biodiversity loss increases the risk of the spread of zoonotic diseases with devastating consequences to the livelihoods of everyone around the world. This year’s United Nations General Assembly hosted the first-ever UN Summit on Biodiversity (30 September) around the theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development” to provide political direction and create momentum for the upcoming 15th meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
An important outcome of the Summit was the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature, supported and endorsed by Regions4 and other 77 countries (and counting). Those who joined the pledge commit to continue to implement ambitious actions in support of reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and supporting ambitious governmental actions as outlined in the pledge. In an effort to raise the voice of subnational leaders during the Summit, Regions4’s Governors, Presidents and Prefects took the floor in a segment called Voices for Nature to send video-messages to the Heads of State and to the world to reinforce the urgency of creating stronger links with the subnational governments particularly, in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Additionally, Mayor Valerie Plante, ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity made the following statement:
Opportunities to get involved
Save the Date: Register for our 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 17th installment of the series took place at the Dring Cities 2020 virtual event, and comprised of two webinars on 8 October 2020, titled ‘Exploring the Linkages Between the Global Climate and Nature Advocacy Agendas’ and ‘Introducing CitiesWithNature to Daring Cities for Climate Resilience’. We will share the links to the recordings as soon as they are available.
Read more about the Daring Cities Advocacy webinars here
Find out more about Daring Cities
Register for Webinar 18 of the Post-2020 series on 5 November
Visit the dedicated website to stay updated on the local and subnational advocacy for nature agenda and to get involved. In case you have missed the previous webinars in the series, the recordings are available on our YouTube Channel. To read more about our previous webinar in the series on the topic of Dialogues towards a green recovery and lessons learned from nature in the context of the Post-2020 GBF, click here.
18th European Week of Regions and Cities
The 18th European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) virtual event brings together regions and cities from all over Europe and dedicates its purpose to discussing common challenges and providing a platform for capacity building, networking and policy cohesion. The event is divided into three thematic sessions, one being Green Europe from 19-22 October 2020.
A side-event at EWRC titled ‘Catalyzing Local Governments Action for the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Local Governments Biodiversity Action’ on 21 October has been organized by the European Committee of the Regions with the South African Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries & Expertise France & ICLEI.
EU Green Week 2020
EU Green Week 2020 is now scheduled for 19-22 October 2020, on the theme of nature and biodiversity. Green Week will highlight the contribution biodiversity can make to society and the economy, and the role it can play in supporting and stimulating recovery in a post-pandemic world, bringing jobs and sustainable growth. EU Green Week will examine how EU policies such as the European Green Deal can help protect and restore nature, leaving it room to recover and thrive.
This year’s Green Week will also act as a milestone on the path to the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, now planned for 2021, where world leaders will adopt a 10-year action plan for biodiversity – a new global deal for people and nature.
See the programme for the virtual conference on 20 – 22 October
LoCS- Local Climate Solutions for Africa 2020
Resource mobilisation, access to finance and increased investment in nature-based solutions are key issues in the negotiations towards the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The conversation on finance for nature within an African context will form part of ICLEI Africa’s LoCS4Africa 2020 virtual congress from 3-12 November 2020. LoCS4Africa is organized in partnership with The Covenant of Mayors in Sub-Saharan Africa and others, and co-hosted by the Government of Rwanda, the City of Kigali and the Rwandan Association of Local Government Authorities (RALGA).
This year’s Local Climate Solutions for Africa (LoCS4Africa) theme, Financing for Change, aims to respond to the growing acknowledgement worldwide that, to tackle climate change, city-scale finance must be mobilised. Local finance will give subnational actors access to the resources they need to respond effectively to climate change impacts that manifest at the local level, and harness the emission reduction potential in cities.
Long-term Approach to Mainstreaming Biodiversity Webinar
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity organized a webinar with the Informal Advisory Group on Mainstreaming Biodiversity on 7 October 2020, introducing the long-term approach to biodiversity (LTAM), its linkages to the post-2020 framework, and ways and means to accelerate mainstreaming across business, finance and society. Read about the LTAM here and its associated action plan here.
CitiesWithNature
Visit our Updates page to read more about what our growing network of over 170 cities and regions are doing to enhance the value of nature in and around our urban areas. Click here to see the latest CitiesWithNature Buzz.
To join CitiesWithNature, connect with the growing network of cities and regions who are taking action for nature, and experience this innovative platform, click here.
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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.
