• Biodiversity
  • Climate Change
  • SDGs

In 2019, Regions4 launched the global campaign #RegionsVoice in a collective effort to bring the voice of regional governments to the major events and negotiation processes in sustainable development within the UN. The aim of the campaign is to ensure the visibility and wider recognition of the role of regional governments in sustainable development, by elevating both individual and collective messages and engaging with a wider audience during the UN Decade of Action.

Click on the title to read the stories, articles or social media posts.


Åland Islands: A Living Model
for a Sustainable Futu
re

While Åland Islands, in Finland, are often celebrated for their collective commitment to well-being and the environment, a closer look reveals pressing challenges. In response, Åland embarked on a long-term transition towards sustainability, leading to the creation of the vision “Everyone Can Flourish”. Read more


Assam: Empowering Assam’s Youth to Build Climate-Resilient Communities

Assam, India, is on the frontlines of climate change, grappling with rising temperatures, erratic floods, and droughts. In response, the state of Assam is finding solutions from district to village level. The youth is also highly engaged in studying climate impacts and implementing solutions.
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Basque Country: A Model for Climate Coastal Restoration in Bermeo 

The Tonpoi cliffs, located in the town of Bermeo, have long held high environmental value. After more than two years of work, Bermeo has restored the natural environment of Tonpoi and has opened it to public use. 
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Basque Country: Restoring San Lorenzo Marshes and increasing climate resilience

Like many coastal regions, the Bay of Txingudi faces growing challenges from climate change, particularly rising sea levels and storm surges. In response, Basque Country is leading an environmental restoration project to reclaim the San Lorenzo marshes. 
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Cameroon’s Western Region: Tourism as a Catalyst for Climate Protection

The Métché Falls project, in Cameroon’s Western Region, is an ambitious initiative that goes beyond promoting tourism. It reimagines how visitors can engage with nature while minimizing ecological footprints.
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CONGOPE’s Guide to Managing Ecuador’s Natural Heritage

The MAGEPAN Manual, created by CONGOPE and Ecuador’s provincial governments, enhances natural heritage management by providing strategies to strengthen wildlife protection and technical capacities at the provincial level in Ecuador. Learn more in the Case Study Database.


Catalonia: Climate Fund mobilizes Tax Revenue

Catalonia is taking a bold stand against climate change with its Climate Fund, financed by 50% of the revenue from the CO2 emissions tax on vehicles with mechanical traction and 20% of the revenue from taxes on environmentally impactful facilities. Read more


Côte d’Ivoire: A Landmark in Conservation with the First Voluntary Nature Reserve

In 2021, Côte d’Ivoire’s Tanoé-Ehy Swamp Forest became the country’s first voluntary nature reserve, a milestone in protecting one of West Africa’s most endangered ecosystems and promoting community-led conservation.
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Gauteng: Pioneering Climate Action Through Collaborative Governance

Faced with growing climate risks such as heatwaves, intense rainfall, and drought, Gauteng Province, South Africa’s economic powerhouse, is setting a bold example for climate action by embracing multilevel governance and collaborative strategies. 
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Gossas: A Model of Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Preservation

The department of Gossas, in Senegal, is a leader in climate change adaptation and biodiversity preservation. The region plays a crucial role in the country’s food and economic security due to its importance in cereal production and livestock farming.
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Louga: Turning Climate Challenges into Local Solutions

African regions participating in international events gain vital opportunities to exchange knowledge, access financing, and showcase impactful initiatives. One example is the Rural Mini Farm Project in Louga, Senegal. Here, climate change is no longer a distant theory but a daily reality with rising heat and shifting weather patterns. Read more about this initiative and watch Badara Samb share insights on empowering African regions on the international stage.


Lombardy: Raising Farm Productivity while Protecting Biodiversity

The LIFE IP GESTIRE2020 project in Lombardy, Italy, enhances farm productivity and biodiversity conservation by combining habitat restoration, species protection, and capacity building. Technical Facilitators help farmers access funding and implement sustainable practices, achieving impactful outcomes like wetland restoration and invasive species control. Learn more in the Case Study Database.


Paraná: Supporting Conservation with Environmental Tax Revenue

The “Ecological ICMS” initiative was launched in Paraná to support municipalities that protect natural areas or provide water to nearby cities. By sharing tax revenue, the ICMS encourages local governments to create protected areas and manage their natural resources sustainably. Read more


PROTEMO: Guinea and France Uniting for Nature

The PROTEMO project, launched by Guinea and France in 2023, combines conservation with economic empowerment, engaging local communities to restore Guinea’s Kounounkan Reserve. Inspired by France’s Regional Nature Parks, this unique initiative empowers residents to lead reforestation, protect endangered species, and develop sustainable livelihoods. With over 90,000 trees planted and former poachers trained as wildlife rangers, PROTEMO showcases a powerful model of community-driven conservation for West Africa and beyond.


Quebec: Ecological Connectivity and Climate Transition

In the coming century, the bioclimatic niches of countless species are expected to shift over 500 kilometers north. At the heart of this massive ecological migration is Québec, a province now playing a critical role in the survival of species across the continent. 
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Quebec: How Québec’s Biodiversity Monitoring Network tackles environmental change 

The Quebec Biodiversity Monitoring Network is a pioneering initiative designed to collect, analyze, and share valuable data to better address key environmental issues and protect Quebec’s rich biodiversity.
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Rio de Janeiro: Rewarding Farmers for Forest Conservation

The Conexão Mata Atlântica project compensates 240 Rio de Janeiro farming families for conserving and restoring 2,440 hectares of the Atlantic Forest, driving local and global socio-environmental transformation. Read more


Rio de Janeiro and UN-Habitat Join Forces in the SDG Challenge

As the 2030 deadline for the UN’s SDGs approaches, Rio de Janeiro is taking significant action to ensure a sustainable and inclusive future. In partnership with UN-Habitat, the state has launched the ‘Inclusive and Sustainable Rio Project’ to empower municipalities to develop sustainable solutions. Read more


Scotland: Peatland ‘The Flow Country’ wins UNESCO’s World Heritage Status

The most expansive and best example of a blanket bog in the world, The Flow Country, in Scotland, won UNESCO’s World Heritage Status. The recognition of The Flow Country as a World Heritage Site is a testament to Scotland’s leadership in protecting these critical ecosystems. 
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Zamora Chinchipe: Balancing Coffee, Cocoa and Amazon Conservation

Ms. Karla Reátegui, Perfect of Zamora-Chinchipe from CONGOPE Ecuador, provides insights into Zamora-Chinchipe’s innovative model for balancing coffee and cocoa production with Amazon conservation efforts. She emphasizes the region’s approach to integrating sustainable agricultural practices with environmental stewardship, aiming to harmonize economic benefits from coffee and cocoa with the protection of the Amazon rainforest. Listen more


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