The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has welcomed the outcome of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (see EUROPE 13087/3). The post-2020 global framework for biodiversity, adopted on Monday 19 December, enshrines, in its view, “the importance of subnational, municipal and local authorities” and a “whole-of-government approach”.
For example, the post-2020 global framework for biodiversity includes a decision on “engagement with subnational governments, cities and other local authorities to enhance implementation”. It not only formalises the need to include subnational levels of government in order to preserve biodiversity, but also emphasises their ability to mobilise resources and raise public awareness. Furthermore, the decision identifies the CoR as a “key partner”.
The CoR also welcomed the action plan for local authorities, “as it identifies, enhances and disseminates policy tools, guidelines, financial mechanisms and programmes that facilitate subnational and local action on biodiversity”.
At COP27 last November, the CoR deplored the lack of the formal inclusion of local and regional authorities in climate negotiations, pointing out that their role was already better recognised in biodiversity negotiations (see EUROPE 13066/3). However, while the CoR delegation to COP15 welcomes this recognition, “more resources still need to be devoted to improving capacity-building, technical assistance delivery and funding to successfully implement nature-positive measures on the ground”, insisted Frida Nilsson (Renew Europe, Swedish), one of the delegation members.
To read the decision ‘Engagement with subnational governments, cities and other local authorities to enhance implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework’: https://aeur.eu/f/4qn (Original version in French by Hélène Seynaeve)