Stronger-than-ever”: Regions4 presence at the Biodiversity COP15 

Regions4 and its partners are aiming for a stronger-than-ever presence at the COP15. As co-host of the 7th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities: Taking Action for Biodiversity, Regions4 invites all regions to put an end to biodiversity loss and join their efforts in raising regions’ voices. 

The second part of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 15) will take place from the 7th to the 19th of December in Montreal, Canada. This year, the CBD COP will gather governments from all over the world to agree on a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to transform the relationship between society and biodiversity.  

The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is a historical opportunity for subnational governments to be recognized for the role they will play in the implementation of the new framework, and also, to define the enabling conditions that will allow its successful implementation at all levels of government

As coordinator of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments to the CBD, together with the Government of Québec, and as a partner of the Edinburgh Process, Regions4 is committed to supporting subnational leaders in their advocacy efforts towards the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, to be adopted at CBD COP 15. Therefore, Regions4 and its partners are advocating, through the Edinburgh Declaration, for the adoption of a new dedicated Decision and Plan of Action for subnational governments, cities and other local authorities that recognized their role in stopping biodiversity loss.

The Edinburgh Declaration gathers over 270 signatories and endorsers continue to be open for signature all regions willing to support its call to action are willing to sign before CBD COP15. For more information on how to sign please read here.

“Biodiversity COP15 is a unique opportunity for subnational governments to show the world that they are ready to play their part in stopping biodiversity loss. Regions4 biodiversity champions, alongside the nearly 300 Edinburgh Declaration signatories, will play a fundamental role in the implementation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, they have led the way for making the 2050 vision of “living in harmony with nature” a reality.”

– Natalia Uribe, Secretary General, Regions4

Additionally, Regions4 and its partners at ICLEI will be launching the RegionsWithNature Platform and its associated Case Study Database. Both initiatives aim at delivering the implementation of the post-2020 GBF and support regional and subnational governments and other stakeholders to enhance ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and nature-based solutions in their regions.   

The Case Study Database is a Regions4 permanent project, that aims at documenting regional success stories and good practices with the objective of making them replicable and accessible to other subnational governments with similar challenges.  


For more information about our initiatives at CBD COP15, Regions4 supported events, and more resources, please visit our dedicated website: regions4.org/project/cop15