Events

Background

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 recognised by the Convention and particularly their significance in developing the post-2020 framework.

Subnational and regional governments 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. 

Aims

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.
Expected outcomes

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.

Learn more from the event website.