At a critical time for both the climate and biodiversity negotiations, our project is organizing an event at the Multilevel Pavilion at UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm El Sheick on the 14th of November at the Multivel Action Pavilion (12-1:30pm UTC/GMT+2) in partnership with IDDRI, ICLEI, Cities and Regions in the UNFCCC Process and the Scottish government.
Key topics to be discussed will be:
- the proposed structure and importance of the Global Biodiversity Framework and the CBD COP15 for the climate-biodiversity nexus and the key role played by Subnational and Local Governments (SNLGs) and non-state actors for this successful implementation;
- pathways for a coherent urban-policy, integrating both climate and biodiversity concerns to implement transformative, positive actions on the ground;
- best practice examples of integrated, inclusive urban policy, taking into account climate and biodiversity concerns for sustainable development.
To ensure greater convergence between the 2 COPs, and in view of the upcoming CBD COP15, we are making sure to give the floor to panelists who will also be in Montreal next December:
- Basile van Havre and Francis Ogwal, Co-Chairs, CBD Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) who will explain how the GBF is relevant for SNLGs and for the climate-biodiversity nexus;
- Karin Zaunberger, Policy Officer, Biodiversity Unit, Directorate General for Environment – European Commission (virtually) who will emphasize how the NBS are crucial for the implementation of both NDCs and of the GBF;
- Alexandra Deprez, Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) will address the importance of responding to climate change and biodiversity loss in full alignment; and the risks or negative consequences of a separate approach;
- Kobie Brand, Director, Biodiversity, Nature and Health, ICLEI, who will highlight how SNLGs are mobilizing themselves and acting on the ground for climate and biodiversity;
- Gavin Edwards, Director, Global Nature Positive Initiative – WWF International, who will in turn focus on the importance of a nature positive approach linked to climate neutrality and equity;
- Doreen Biko, Deputy Mayor of Kampala, Uganda, who will bring a national perspective by explaining Kampala City’s vision for the climate and biodiversity and its experience in implementation of both agendas;
- Michael Ofosuhene-Wise, Climate and Nature Manager – Business for Nature, (virtually) who will finally shed some light on how the private sector is engaged in reducing and disclosing not only their impact on climate, but also on biodiversity and why is this important in the context of the GBF.
“Avoiding major failure on climate and biodiversity requires ensuring the highest integrity in both arenas: we must conserve nature alongside – not instead of – very deep and rapid GHG emission cuts.” Alexandra Deprez, IDDRI.
Ahead of the event, Hugo Rivera Mendoza, Team Leader, Post 2020 Biodiversity Framework – EU support project, who will be moderating the event, points out again that: “Climate and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin and need to be addressed together. Subnational and local governments play a key role in ensuring coherence between both agendas.”
Find the program here and register here.
To join virtually: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86537823744?pwd=M0NIOU11cFdjdXNoYXQ5ak9yc0FHZz09, Passcode: 097245.
