Today, October 8, marks the launch of the RegionsWithNature initiative, born from a partnership between ICLEI, Regions4, IUCN, European Committee of the Regions, GoLS, and other partners. This is a unique initiative that recognizes and enhances the value of nature in regions across the world. The initiative is being presented during the 2030 Visions Day of the Daring Cities 2021 forum, an event designed to empower urban and regional decision-makers to lead in the climate emergency.

As Coordinators of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments to the CBD (AC SNG) and convener of the R4BLP, Regions4 is delighted to partner in the launch of this partnership to continue to catalyse regional actions and leadership on biodiversity, providing a new platform where regions can further work on mainstreaming biodiversity across policies and plans.

This line of work complements the advocacy efforts developed by Regions4 as a partner of the Edinburgh Process, to ensure a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework inclusive of all levels of government. The platform will serve subnational governments, staff from regional environment departments, governors’ offices, and other departments, such as agriculture, whose mandates involve nature intimately, will all benefit from RegionsWithNature.

This developing initiative aims to mobilise political will and funding by providing regions with: 1) guidance for coordination and for developing biodiversity strategies and action plans at the regional level; 2) space to share best practices, and case studies for nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation; 3) a commitment platform for regions to make public their overall commitments for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework; and, 4) connect with other regions and partner organisations.

As the international community prepares for the crucial upcoming meetings of the Convention in Glasgow (UNFCCC COP 26) and Kunming (CBD COP 15), which promise to be the most multi-level conventions yet, regional leaders continue their efforts to integrate approaches to tackle the issues of climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable development fostering synergies across these three thematic areas of work in their jurisdictions, whilst simultaneously tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

RegionsWithNature builds on the momentum and the experiences acquired during this past year following the trend to leverage synergies through multilevel and collaborative partnerships and will complement its sister initiative CitiesWithNature.

If you would like to find out more about RegionsWithNature or are a partner organisation who would like to join and help build RegionsWithNature, get in touch by emailing info@regionswithnature.org. If you are a member of Regions4 and have any questions, email rgomez@regions4.org to learn more about the initiative.

FURTHER INFORMATION

RegionsWithNature web page

RegionsWithNature Twitter

Regions4 activities towards COP26

Regions4 advocacy actions towards COP15: Edinburgh Declaration and AC SNG