Punctuated by the World Habitat Day and the World Cities Day, the October month counted multiple events raising awareness on the critical role of local and subnational governments to address biodiversity loss and reconnect people with nature. Among them, the global virtual forum Daring Cities organized by the city of Bonn (Germany) lead urban leaders taking on the Climate Emergency to commit for nature through greener cities building and financing, promotion of urban nature-based solutions and biodiversity commitments undertaking on the platform CitiesWithNature. The Congress for a Sustainable and Smart Future organized by the Metropolitan Area of the Valle de Aburra/Medellin brought on that momentum across a session on Biodiversity and Resilience, gathering over a thousand participants online.
The Global Coalition for Biodiversity, launched by EU Commissioner for Environment Virginijus Sinkevicius, on World Wildlife Day, offers the opportunity for all national parks, aquariums, research centers, botanic gardens, zoos, and science and natural history museums to join forces and boost public awareness about the nature crisis, ahead of the crucial COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity next year, when nations will adopt a new global framework to protect and restore nature.
The coalition’s pledge clearly outlines what cities can do to contribute to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and set a new nature-positive development path, in order to ensure transformative change to secure a sustainable and healthy future for all. It also urges all governments to agree on ambitious policies to restore and protect the ecosystems on which we all depend, and to take urgent measures on the ground. It already counts more than 150 institutions and organizations, and aims at gathering 500 of them by the end of the year.
“It is within our cities and towns where multiple opportunities exist to raise awareness about the need to protect and respect nature, harness innovation, implement nature-based solutions and embrace a green recovery. Together, let’s take strong action to create vibrant cities, where people and biodiversity can thrive.” Valerie Plante, Mayor of Montreal and ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity
As the third Open-Ended Working Group country host, Colombia will pave the way towards this last formal round of negotiations before CBD COP15. The Edinburgh Declaration, which calls for greater prominence to be given to the role that subnational and local governments play in delivering a new global framework of targets under the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will remain opened to signature until then.
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A short animated video launched by ICLEI’s Cities Biodiversity Center today raises awareness around why cities and regions are critical to addressing biodiversity loss and reconnecting people with nature. It also clearly outlines what cities can do to contribute to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and set a new nature-positive development path, in order to ensure transformative change to secure a sustainable and healthy future for all.
Watch the video here:
