Partners

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) officially endorsed the R4BLP at the thirteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention (COP 13), in which the project was launched. Since then, the Parties and the Secretariat of the CBD have supported the R4BLP by providing technical expertise and sharing up-to-date information with the platform members. Moreover, Regions4 is currently the coordinator appointed by the CBD of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, an official platform that aims to represent the voice of subnational leaders within the CBD and at other international forums.

UN Environment is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. Regions4 is a representative of the Local Authorities Major Group in the Major Groups Facilitating Committee of the UN Environment and the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). In this capacity, Regions4 facilitates subnational governments’ input and participation in the events and discussions of the UN environmental system. Also, since 2017, Regions4 is a supporter of the BreatheLife initiative, a partnership between UN Environment, the Climate and Clean Air Coalition and the World Health Organisation. This initiative promotes commitments and exchanges on reducing air pollution, and at least 10 subnational governments joined the initiative through Regions4.

Based at the UN Headquarters in New York, UN DESA holds up the development pillar of the UN Secretariat. Regions4 has been a key partner in promoting UN DESA’s mission of ensuring stakeholders’ engagement with the UN. Regions4 is a founding member of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders (MGoS) Coordination Mechanism, an organising partner of the Local Authorities Major Group (LAMG), and a member of the MGoS Steering Group, being its first Co-Chair in 2015. The collaboration with UN DESA, through its Division for Sustainable Development Goals and Office of Intergovernmental Support and Coordination for Sustainable Development, facilitates regional governments’ participation in UN conferences and meetings, such as the UN High-level Political Forum and the Local and Regional Governments’ Forum.

UNDP ART promotes sustainable human development at the local level by strengthening the capacities of local stakeholders and by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and expertise. Since 2017, Regions4 and UNDP ART have collaborated on the localisation of the SDGs. UNDP ART participated in webinars organised by Regions4 and provided support to Regions4 reports, including the “Localising the SDGs: regional governments paving the way”. Both organisations share the recognition of the territorial approach to development for enhancing multi-level coherence and cooperation.

The CoR is the voice of regions and cities in the European Union (EU). Regions4 has been working collaboratively with the CoR Commission for Economic Policy (ECON) on sustainable development issues and the implementation of the SDGs, as well as with the Commission for the Environment, Climate Change and Energy (ENVE) in mutual support of the biodiversity and climate change agenda. Regions4 has provided input to influence future EU strategy on SDGs, biodiversity and climate change, and participates in CoR conferences and meetings along with its European regions.

BC3 is a research centre on the causes and consequences of climate change. Led by one of the most recognized scientists in the Climate Change field -Prof. Maria José Sanz, they produce multidisciplinary knowledge to support decision making towards sustainable development at the international level.