At CBD COP 14, the Conference of the Parties adopted a preparatory process for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which included, among other elements of work, the organisation of regional consultations to ensure all relevant perspectives and visions are considered in the new framework on biodiversity, to be adopted in 2020, in Beijing, China. Being part of this process will allow subnational leaders to include not only their mindset, but also the strong commitments they have agreed to carry out in order to stop biodiversity loss and to contribute to global efforts alongside the Parties.

The Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity, as the permanent structure that gives voice to subnational leaders willing to contribute to the CBD dialogues, participated in the first regional consultation that took place in the city of Nagoya, Japan in late January 2019. The AC SNG members intend to participate at the consultation for the Western European and Others Group and other members of the European Union, which will take place in the city of Bonn, Germany in mid-March 2019.

The active participation of experts familiar with the work implemented by the Convention is of extreme relevance to continue to build momentum for subnational contribution at COP 15. The aim is to be able to insert the view of subnational leaders regarding key issues and challenges, provide guidance to facilitate the development of the new global biodiversity framework and its components, and to suggest ways to implement that new framework.

It is very important to recall that, as mentioned by Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the CBD, “Subnational governments are at the nexus of local, national and global action on biodiversity”. Their role is very important to the implementation of a new biodiversity agreement and, moreover, it is their engagement in the preparation process that will eventually lead to a new and, hopefully, more ambitious global framework.