Subnational, regional and local governments are key agents in delivering actions to address global and local biodiversity loss and to help national governments achieve the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. They will be key actors in helping to achieve the commitments and targets set out in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The important role of subnational, regional and local governments for biodiversity is recognized by the Convention and particularly their significance in developing the post-2020 framework.
The event was being organised by the Government of Scotland and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in collaboration with partner organisations such as ICLEI, REGIONS4 Sustainable Development, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the Group of Leading Subnational Governments toward Aichi Biodiversity Targets (GoLS), the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Scottish National Heritage, the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre, the Government of Quebec and of Wales.
They are able to bring influence and specific expertise to their national counterparts (in some cases states Parties), whilst sitting closer to local delivery agents, i.e. Local Government, Nature and Conservation Agencies, and non-Governmental organisations (eNGO’s). Subnational and Regional Government can support effective mainstreaming of biodiversity through these relationships. It is through effective communication, harmonization of policies and programmes, and liaison arrangements between these layers of governance that the truly transformational changes needed to reverse the loss of biodiversity will be implemented. Thus it is important to develop meaningful engagement frameworks across all levels of government.
This workshop will bring subnational, regional and local governments together to explore and define their role in the CBD post 2020 framework. It will notably focus on how subnational governments and authorities can build capacity to support action towards biodiversity and sustainability goals.
Following the introductory webinars, participants will be engaged to participate and make their inputs online until the 29th May via Attendify and the event website, where all relevant information will be shared as the process unfolds. Inputs can be made via a series of google forms. Once the consultation process is closed, the partners will work to incorporate inputs into the various event outputs. From 29th June- 3rd July, a second series of regional webinars will conclude the process by presenting the event results and outputs and demonstrating how inputs have been incorporated.
If you are interested in participating and to receive further updates, please contact the team at enquiries-subnationalworkshop@gov.scot
This workshop is designed to bring together a globally balanced representation of Sub-National, Regional and Local Governments from across the world to:
- undertake knowledge exchange and sharing of information with respect to implementing the actions and enabling conditions to meet the aims and ambitions of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework;
- provide constructive outcomes for the Co-Chairs of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, for consideration in their future work on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, as well as for the agenda of the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation of the CBD.
Two main outcomes are expected from the workshop:
- a workshop report, including considerations for the further development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; to the extent feasible and appropriate, these proposals will cover the different elements of the framework; including goals, targets, sub-targets and indicators, means of implementation, monitoring and reporting;
- a political declaration – Edinburgh Declaration – agreed by subnational, regional and local governments, and open for signature by any other parties, setting out the aims and objectives of subnational, regional and local government for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and its implementation.
