The development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is an intensive process that includes regional consultations, negotiations and conferences that shed light on the current status of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the fulfilment of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. Though the projections of future biodiversity loss are concerning, the research suggests that there are many opportunities for change and therefore, much the regions can still do.

The ninth Trondheim Conference on Biodiversity held in Norway, from 2-5 July 2019, had the purpose to spark conversations amongst participants, and in particular, negotiators, to increase their understanding of a range of issues relevant to the upcoming discussions on biodiversity. The region of Québec, as leader and co-coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments to Biodiversity (AC SNG), attended the Conference and shared the AC SNG’s vision for the future and what this implies for subnational governments.

A key concern continues to be the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change, as these two phenomena are accelerating and reinforcing each other. In that regard, the Regions4 Biodiversity Learning Platform (R4BLP) together with researchers from the University Catolica de Santos in Sao Paulo, Brazil, are preparing a document on the practical  implications for mainstreaming biodiversity at the subnational level and intend to drive conclusions to build knowledge around the very important topic that is the integration of biodiversity into sectors.

The first meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on Mainstreaming Biodiversity will be carried out in the city of Nairobi, Kenya (27-30 August 2019) will be a great opportunity to reinforce the message of the AC SNG, that on the importance of including regional knowledge for guiding policy and practice for the future framework for biodiversity.

The above-mentioned report intends to impact the dialogues to be held at the 23^rd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice – SBSTTA 23 (Montreal, Canada, 25-29 November 2019). The members of the AC SNG together with its regional partners will present its main conclusions at a side-event (date and venue to be confirmed) to ensure that the process for developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework includes the vision of those regions doing great efforts to halt biodiversity loss, and more importantly that embraces their expertise and knowledge so the future framework for biodiversity is just and inclusive.

To know more about the Trondheim Conference results please visit: https://trondheimconference.org