The European Week of Regions and Cities (5-22 October) and the EU Green Week (19-22 October) offered the stage for regional and local leaders to share their lessons in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a special focus on putting biodiversity considerations at the centre of all recovery plans and investing in nature as a means to prevent future pandemics.

Regions4 co-organised two biodiversity events at both landmark forums, together with the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments, as well as our partner, the European Committee of the Regions. Our two events provided the opportunity for European Regions4 members to highlight the leading work they have been doing in biodiversity, specifically in relation to their efforts to recover from the global pandemic that continues to bring devastating consequences to regions all over the world.  

Mr. Rafaelle Cattaneo, Minister for the Environment and Climate, Lombardy (Italy) was Regions4 representative at the EWRC event titled Biodiversity 2030: your say our future on 20 October. At said event, Mr. Cattaneo mentioned the importance of local efforts and global impacts, highlighting that “Lombardy is working to support the adoption at CBD COP15  of a new dedicated Decision for the greater inclusion of subnational governments, cities and local authorities within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and raising ambition for subnational, city and local implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework throughout the next decade”.

As for the EU Green Week, Mr John Mouat, Policy Manager International Marine Biodiversity within the Scottish Government (UK) took the floor at the Biodiverse cities and regions post-COVID 22 October 2020 to lay out the important role subnational and local governments play in supporting and stimulating recovery in a post-pandemic world. The capital role that the Edinburgh Declaration plays in uniting the voices of subnational leaders all over the globe is invaluable, which is why Regions4 is strongly advocating for its adoption by subnational governments worldwide.

Both events were a milestone on the road to the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP-15), now planned for 2021. Subnational leaders willing to join our advocacy efforts are welcome to join the AC SNG and take advantage of the opportunities to explore and share best practices with other leading regions.

To find out more, please feel free to contact Renata Gomez, Biodiversity Programme Manager, at rgomez@regions4.org

Further information

The recording of the session “Biodiversity 2030: your say our future” is available at the EWRC Replay section