Updated on 11/03/2021

Highlights

• The Edinburgh Declaration launched in August 2020 continues to gather support and is open for signature by all subnational governments to make a strong case on the road to COP15.
• Over 130 subnational authorities and non-government organisations have already endorsed the document.
• The Declaration calls for a COP15 decision that recognizes and facilitates the key role of Subnational and Local Governments within the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

One of the most important lessons learned from the coronavirus crisis is the relevance of biodiversity for the prosperity of our society, as well as our economies. Subnational governments have been actively contributing towards the attainment of the Aichi targets, however, progress overall has remained limited by the end of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity 2011-2020 and much more needs to be done in the coming decade to get on track to reach the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature”.

Regions4 and the constituency of subnational governments continue to advocate for nature and the adoption of an inclusive post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Regions4 member, the Scottish Government, led in 2020 the Edinburgh Process, which resulted in the Edinburgh Declaration, representing the high-level political objectives of subnational and local governments, and highlighting subnational views on the framework, and its implementation.

As a key partner of the process, Regions4 supports the Edinburgh Declaration, which remarkably demonstrates the commitment of subnational authorities to work alongside the CBD and other interested parties to deliver for nature over the next decade.

Following its 2020 achievements, the Edinburgh Declaration continues to gather support on the road to COP15 and as of today, over 130 subnational authorities and non-governmental organisations have endorsed it. Among Regions4 members, signatories include the governments of Azuay, Basque Country, Scotland, Wales, Québec, Campeche, Jalisco, Catalonia, as well as the Consortium of Provincial Autonomous Governments of Ecuador – CONGOPE.

Why endorse the Declaration?

By signing the Declaration regional governments will:

1. Join a large group of leaders from across the globe who are asking the CBD Parties to take strong and bold actions to bring about transformative change;
2. Promote the recognition of the vital role of subnational governments, cities, and local authorities in delivering the post-2020 GBF;
3. Advocate to further amplify the legacy of landmark Decision X/22 and the adoption of a new Plan of Action for subnational governments, cities, and local authorities within the post-2020 GBF, providing the mechanisms to facilitate their contributions for the implementation of the new global biodiversity targets; and,
4. Call for a multi-stakeholder platform that ensures representation of subnational governments, cities, and local authorities to support the implementation of the new framework.

Regions4 calls on all interested governments and organisations to join this global movement today, sign the document at the Scottish Government’s website and help spread the word.

Channelling regions’ voice into the CBD

Regions4 has a long trajectory in bringing the voice of regional governments to the CBD through our two umbrella initiatives: the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments, coordinated in alliance with the Government of Québec, and the Regions4 Biodiversity Learning Platform, our flagship initiative for knowledge exchange and capacity-building. 

Regional governments interested in joining Regions4’s advocacy efforts and learning more, can contact Renata Gómez, Biodiversity Programme Manager, at rgomez@regions4.org

Further information

To learn more about Regions4’s work in support of a new Decision on Subnational and Local Governments, please click here.