The Sharm El-Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People is a global movement of people, across institutions and sectors, committed to accelerate progress on the biodiversity goals and to meet the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity (AC SNG), coordinated by Regions4 and the Government of Québec, recently joined this movement and pledge to continue to align its efforts within the post-2020 process.

The leading subnational governments that are part of the AC SNG are ready to play a stronger role in the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and are committed to:

Align ongoing and future strategies and efforts on biodiversity to those of the CBD Parties and Secretariat and to firmly contribute to the implementation of on the ground actions to halt biodiversity loss and, continue to be a strong link between cities, local authorities and national governments to support a whole of government approach to the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, having due regard for their different competencies.

As the CBD Secretariat adapts to the current situation with the pandemic and creates opportunities for local and subnational engagement, the AC SNG continues to contribute to the conversation in this case, by sharing the importance of including a whole of government approach in the new global biodiversity framework.

The discussions that will take place in the Special Virtual Sessions for SBSTTA 24 and SBI 3, 15-18 September 2020, will be a great opportunity for the AC SNG to share the perspective of subnational governments all over the world.

The sessions will include:

• the launch of the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook;
• the testing of a Party-led review process, through an open-ended forum;
• a report of the panel on resource mobilization; and
• an update on the draft post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

To participate in these global discussions on biodiversity and be part of Regions4 efforts please visit the AC SNG’s website and contact Biodiversity Programme Manager, Ms Renata Gomez at rgomez@regions4.org.