Last week, Brazilian cities and states came together to formulate their contributions from the Brazilian perspective on key points related to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The event ended with the signing of a strong charter, the Carta de São Paulo, and all state capital cities committing to join CitiesWithNature.
BIO2020 – Brazilian Perspectives for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, organized by ICLEI South America, the São Paulo State Government, Regions4, Expertise France, CETESB and Fundação Florestal, took place between 4 and 6 February 2020, at the Infrastructure and Environment Secretariat, in São Paulo, Brazil.
The event was attended by more than 200 delegates, including high level delegates such as Governors, Mayors and heads of institutions, representing different Brazilian territories, municipalities, states, metropolitan regions and biosphere reserves, as well as representatives from the private sector, academia and civil society, such as the youth and traditional communities.
BIO2020 was an important milestone on the global roadmap for local and subnational governments contributing to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Its aim was to formulate their contributions from the Brazilian perspective on key points related to the Post-2020 Framework.
During the closing plenary the Carta de São Paulo was signed by Marcos Penido, Secretary for Infrastructure and Environment, in the São Paulo State Government. Among other points, the Carta calls for reinforcing multilevel integration in the Post-2020 Framework. It also strongly recommends that Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity revise the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity, adopted in Nagoya in 2010, and improve the Action Plan by offering a specific mechanism for the engagement of subnational and local governments. The event and signing of the Carta de São Paulo are significant as they serve to communicate the voice of Brazilian local and subnational governments, on the implications of the Post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, globally.
During the plenary event it was also announced that São Paulo State had signed up to CitiesWithNature, and that the Federal District plus all 26 state capital cities had committed to joining. At the time of the announcement 15 cities had already signed up to CitiesWithNature.
These include:
Niterói (Rio de Janeiro),
Rio Branco (Acre),
Curitiba (Paraná),
Palmas (Tocantins),
Vitória (Espírito Santo),
Fortaleza (Ceará),
Salvador (Bahia),
João Pessoa (Paraíba),
Campo Grande (Mato Grosso do Sul),
Recife (Pernambuco),
Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro),
São Paulo (São Paulo),
Goiânia (Goiás),
Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais),
Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul).
CitiesWithNature is a unique partnership initiative, founded by ICLEI, IUCN and The Nature Conservancy, that provides an online platform that connects cities and subnational governments, researchers, practitioners, partners, and urban communities to share, learn from and inspire each other.
It serves as a global platform to strengthen collective action to mainstream nature into cities and regions in support of the Post-2020 roadmap process. As such, CitiesWithNature is endorsed by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological as the official engagement platform for cities and subnational governments to share and report on their actions and commitments to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
The BIO2020 event was supported by CETESB, the Fundação Florestal, the Reserva da Biosfera da Mata Atlântica, da Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.
by Martha Rojas Urrego
This year, the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will adopt an ambitious global biodiversity roadmap to guide progress toward a future in which humans genuinely live in harmony with nature. To achieve that goal, conservation and restoration of the world’s declining wetlands is essential.
We now face a sixth mass extinction, in which an estimated one million species are predicted to disappear. Does it matter? We survived the dodo’s demise and, though tragic, will the imminent extinction of the northern rhino really affect our lives?
In fact, it will. All living things on our planet depend on healthy and diverse ecosystems for air, water, and nutritious food. These same ecosystems regulate the climate and provide the raw materials and resources on which our economies – and lives – depend. The annual global value of natural services each year is estimated to be $125 trillion.
Yet, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse are among the biggest risks to economic prosperity and global development, according to the World Economic Forum. For many, it is a matter of life or death. For all of us, it is an existential threat as far-reaching, complex, and urgent as climate change.
The world’s failure to meet almost all of its biodiversity goals highlights how we’ve underestimated that threat. Humanity wonders at the natural world but fails to value it. We pollute ecosystems, exploit their resources with abandon, and make them inhospitable. Too often, we fixate on the threatened extinction of iconic species – the polar bears and koalas whose suffering makes headlines – while ignoring the vast range of organisms we may never see, but which are essential to sustaining the habitats that support and shelter all life, including us.
The most endangered ecosystems are wetlands, including freshwater rivers, lakes, paddies, marshes and peatlands, and saltwater estuaries, mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, and lagoons. We have lost 87% of our wetlands in the past 300 years, and 35% since 1970. Today, they are disappearing faster than any other ecosystem – three times faster than even forests. As they vanish, so does the life within them. More than 25% of wetland plants and animals – which comprise up to 40% of all the world’s species – are at risk of extinction, and stocks of other remaining species are declining rapidly.
As the CitiesWithNature platform continues to grow, we encourage many more cities to join this global initiative aimed at protecting and enhancing nature, and building resilience in cities across the world.
CitiesWithNature is a global platform for cities and other subnational governments, their communities and experts to connect, share and learn from each other in mainstreaming nature into our cities in ways that benefit both people and nature.
“I am delighted to see the growing interest of cities in urban biodiversity, an issue that plays a crucial role for resilient cities and the well-being of their citizens,” said Mayor Valérie Plante of the City of Montréal & ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity.
The first CitiesWithNature pathway, called the Nature Pathway, has been designed to guide cities through a series of twenty-seven steps, each dealing with a milestone in the process of mainstreaming nature and implementing nature-based solutions. It is based on an established methodology which has been refined and tested by ICLEI and others over many years. Through the pathway, cities are able to share their policies, plans, commitments, actions and results related to nature, and access a wide variety of practical resources and innovative tools, projects, services and information offered by leading global organizations and experts.
Recently, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a report that estimated that one million species are threatened with extinction and that extinction rates are only accelerating. The report found that the current global response is insufficient and transformative change is urgently needed.
Many cities are embracing their role as catalysts for this much-needed transformative change, and are sharing and showcasing their work through the CitiesWithNature platform.
London, who joined as the 100th Pioneer City, is providing a leading example of concrete action towards conserving, restoring and living in harmony with nature in our cities:
Keep up with what London is doing and sharing by viewing their city profile on CitiesWithNature, which is a summary of the city’s commitment and work in this area, and a celebration of its natural assets.
On World Cities Day, Dar es Salaam, another leading Pioneer City of the CitiesWithNature initiative, continues to demonstrate its commitment to protecting and mainstreaming nature through the development and launch of the Thematic Atlas of Nature’s Benefits to Dar es Salaam.
The Atlas comprises a collection of maps that showcase the city’s natural assets, their importance for the local economy and the wellbeing of its people. Produced as part of the INTERACT-Bio project, it will help urban planners make informed decisions. The Atlas highlights the social benefits of green open space and vegetated areas in the City. Each ‘theme’ in the atlas represents an urban challenge, such as rising urban heat, air pollution or flooding, and how urban nature can address these issues. An accompanying illustrated poster provides a beautiful snapshot of the city’s natural assets
CitiesWithNature was developed out of a need by cities and has a long history, building on previous international programs. The Partnership Initiative was founded by ICLEI, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), along with supporting bodies such as the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) and a range of other global partners.
The platform has also been endorsed by the SCBD as the official vehicle through which cities and subnational governments can share and report on their biodiversity commitments and ambitions towards the Action Agenda for Nature and People and in shaping the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
CitiesWithNature is open to all cities and subnational governments, regardless of size or level of progress in working with nature. It is structured in such a way that cities can decide how involved they want to be. The more actively they engage and contribute, the more benefits they will receive. There is no fee associated with joining CitiesWithNature. Initially, a commitment, along with some basic information, is all that is needed to register and start participating.
To join London, Dar es Salaam and many other leading cities on this journey, please visit https://www.citieswithnature.org/join/ and follow CitiesWithNature on Twitter @CitiesWNature.
Washington, D.C. (August 19, 2019) – Today, ICLEI–Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI) unveiled new guidance that enables U.S. cities and counties to include forests and trees within their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions accounting, a key activity to ensure representation of local forestry and land use consideration in climate action planning. Developed in partnership with the Woods Hole Research Center and World Resources Institute (WRI), and funded by Climate and Land Use Alliance (CLUA) and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, the Forest and Land Use Appendix to ICLEI’s U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions will help fill a critical gap in enabling communities to develop climate action related to land management at a local level.
Forests and trees sequester about a third of the greenhouse gas emissions that humans emit every year; however, a study conducted by ICLEI showed that 60 percent of U.S. community respondents did not include forests or trees in their greenhouse gas inventories due to a lack of guidance on how to do so.
“Failing to include forest and trees within U.S. climate action plans — which serve as such a critical component to meeting global climate mitigation goals — simply due to lack of available guidance was a huge missed opportunity,” said Angie Fyfe, Executive Director, ICLEI USA. “The U.S. has some of the best data on land use, we couldn’t let limited expertise on how to put these numbers together be the cause for inaction.”
More than 3,500 people have downloaded The U.S. Community Protocol since 2012. The Forest and Land Use Appendix of the Protocol provides, for the first time, guidance to U.S. communities for estimating the emissions and removals from forests. The Appendix also considers “trees outside forests”, including urban trees and trees in croplands, which are often overlooked in national assessments.
The protocol was piloted with Montgomery County, Maryland; Los Angeles County, California; and Whatcom County, Washington; representing the dramatic spectrum of climate and land cover across the country.
“Montgomery County jumped at the opportunity to explore the sequestration benefits associated with trees and forests,” said Marc Elrich, County Executive, Montgomery County, Maryland. “Given our aggressive GHG reduction goals of 80 percent by 2027 and carbon neutrality by 2035, increased sequestration must be in the mix of strategies we employ. The new protocol also has prompted us to think more deeply about natural climate solutions ranging from reducing the heat-island effect to increasing sequestration in the agricultural sector.”
“The protocol provides a baseline for communities to start acknowledging the climate benefits that come from leaving forests and trees standing, increasing tree canopy cover in cities and incorporating trees into agricultural landscapes,” said Nancy Harris, Forest Program Research Manager at World Resources Institute and co-author of the protocol. “Having this guidance at a sub-state level is critical, given most decisions around land use are made at a very local scale.”
ICLEI USA has revised its ClearPath GHG emissions management software tool with new calculators that will allow communities to develop GHG inventories with land use in mind from the outset and is encouraging its member communities to see the new guidance to consider how forests and trees can be integrated into climate action plans.
Download the U.S. Community Protocol for Accounting and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
#1 Recognizes that all cities depend on healthy, interconnected ecosystems within and around them, and that now, more than ever, there is a need to unite and embrace nature.
#2 Connects cities and other levels of subnational government directly with each other, and with experts and urban communities, through a ‘whole of society’ approach.
#3 Provides cities and others a dynamic, free space to demonstrate their commitment to plan and live with nature, and showcase their innovative work.
#4 Offers a user-friendly digital interface for cities, experts and urban communities to share ambitions, policies, plans and actions, and join the growing movement of partners standing together to influence and implement the ‘New Deal for Nature’.
#5 Introduces cities to a wide variety of innovative tools, projects, research and services offered by leading global organizations to support the mainstreaming of nature into planning and development processes for building resilient cities.
#6 Guides the cities and regions who commit to taking action – regardless of their size, level of ambition or starting point – along a journey towards enhancing the value of nature in and around urban areas.
#7 Keeps cities, experts and urban communities up to date with current global agreements and ambitions, and how they can get involved in the processes and negotiations.
#8 Strengthens collective action at the local level to achieve global impact, by co-creating a ‘big tent’ that will build and grow a global community of practice on biodiversity and nature-based solutions.
#9 Advocates for local and subnational governments to be recognized as central to the global biodiversity agenda, and coordinates the voice of this constituency through a ground-breaking engagement mechanism, endorsed by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
# 10 Enables strengthened collective and large-scale action to conserve and restore biodiversity in and around cities and overcome the effects of climate change, to prevent irreversible loss and damage to the natural systems we depend on.
Mayor Valérie Plante of the City of Montréal will take up the role of ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity. The position will shine a spotlight on the role of cities to address the biodiversity extinction crisis and advocate for the protection of nature and biodiversity by local governments.
In May, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a report that estimated that globally one million species are threatened with extinction today and that extinction rates are accelerating.
With half of the global population living in cities and rapid urbanization exerting pressure on fresh water supplies and the living environment, cities and urban communities have a critical role to play in addressing the biodiversity extinction crisis.
Newly appointed ICLEI Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity, Mayor Plante is calling on Mayors around the world to join her in igniting a global wave of action in cities, towns and regions to plan with, conserve and restore nature.
Image © City of MontrealVille de Montréal Sarah Latulippe
“Now is the time for urgent action. Nature underpins our very existence and livelihoods and is integral to the effective functioning and well-being of urban communities,” said Mayor Plante.
The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will take place next year in China where national governments will set the course for multilateral action on nature and biodiversity. “Collective action at the local level is our best hope for seeing the change needed at a global scale. It is crucial that the voices of urban communities are heard in the negotiations on a new deal for nature” continued Mayor Plante.
Redefining nature in cities is more critical than ever. CitiesWithNature – a rapidly growing global partnership initiative founded by ICLEI, the IUCN, and The Nature Conservancy with support from a variety of other partners such as World Urban Parks, the Biophilic Cities Network, WWF and others– offers a platform for cities and regions to connect, learn, act and inspire one another to design, plan and work with nature while making commitments and taking local action to protect nature.
CitiesWithNature is endorsed by the Secretariat on the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) as the official platform for cities and subnational governments to share and report on their ambitions and commitments to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
More than 70 cities from around the world including Melbourne, London, Manchester, Bonn, Kochi, Dar es Salaam, Cape Town, Barcelona, Fort Collins, and Londrina have already joined CitiesWithNature and are committed to embark on this ambitious journey alongside Mayor Plante.
London recently became the world’s first National Park City and launched the NPC Universal Charter. ICLEI and CitiesWithNature endorsed this vital step to creating stronger human-nature connections in cities and welcomes London as it proceeds to join CitiesWithNature.
On 22 July 2019 London became the world’s first National Park City (NPC) when it launched the London National Park City Charter.
“A greener future is central to my vision for London and I’m proud we’re officially the world’s first National Park City,” said London Mayor, Sadiq Kahn.
All individuals and cities can become part of this movement toward a better life in our cities by signing the NPC Universal Charter, which was launched on the day preceding the event.
ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC) Global Director, Kobie Brand, gave some words of endorsement at the launch, on behalf of both ICLEI and the growing CitiesWithNature Partnership Initiative, both of which are partners of the NPC Foundation. In support of the initiative, CitiesWithNature showcases the Universal Charter to its growing community of practice as one of the ways we can collectively build CitiesWithNature, and encourages everyone, everywhere, to take action – no matter how small – toward this vision.
“As we fast approach the year 2020, arguably the most critical moment in the history of our planet where the global ‘New deal for Nature’ will be negotiated, cities are at the forefront of the action needed to see better connections between people and nature. And today, London is showing us that cities are ready to stand up. To stand FOR and WITH nature.”
– Kobie Brand, Global Director: ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center
Read the whole article on ICLEI CBC.
Today, 22nd July 2019, marks the occasion where London launched the National Park City Charter.
Yesterday, in London, the National park City Universal Charter was also launched to spread this incredible initiative to other cities. As a growing network of cities, researchers, practitioners, individuals, communities, and partners dedicated to urban nature, CitiesWithNature endorses this momentous occasion and stands ready to support the vision and National Park City team. Show your support today! Anyone, anywhere can be a part of this amazing initiative to transform our cities into CitiesWithNature.
“As London prepares to commit to becoming the first National Park City, we hope to see many cities follow suit through the launch of the Universal National Park City Charter on 22 July. A momentous step forward in building and growing CitiesWithNature. Congratulations to London!”
– Kobie Brand, Global Director: Biodiversity, ICLEI
As cities continue to grow and the natural environment continues to diminish at alarming rates, the time is now, like never before, to unite under a common vision to transform our cities into healthier, greener, fairer, and more harmonious places to live. As we rapidly approach the year 2020, arguably the most critical moment in the history of our planet where the “New Deal for Nature” will be negotiated, cities are at the forefront of the global collective action that will see better connections between people and nature forged in the post 2020 era. We hope to see many other cities embarking on the journey to become CitiesWithNature, and we are thrilled to endorse the National Park City Universal Charter as one of the tools that has the potential to see this global vision realised.
The universal charter, which we encourage all individuals and cities to sign, can be found here.
By signing this document you will be showing your support for the vision of National Park Cities and will be pledging to help make them a success.
“As cities continue to grow and the natural environment continues to diminish at alarming rates, the time is now, like never before, to unite under a common vision to transform our cities into healthier, greener, fairer, and more harmonious places to live. As we rapidly approach the year 2020, arguably the most critical moment in the history of our planet where the “New Deal for Nature” will be negotiated, cities are at the forefront of the global collective action that will see better connections between people and nature forged in the post 2020 era. We hope to see many other cities embarking on the journey to become CitiesWithNature, and we are thrilled to endorse the National Park City Universal Charter as one of the tools that has the potential to see this global vision realised.”
– Timothy Blatch, CitiesWithNature Program Coordinator
In Portland, Oregon, annual rainfall exceeds a staggering 37 inches (the US average is about 32). When it rains, excess storm water collects dirt, soil, and other pollutants and then drains into the main water system. In 2017 it was estimated that Portland has spent a cumulative $370 million on infrastructure, such as pipes and sewer separations, to tackle the problem.
Then in 2007, the government launched the Green Streets project. The city planted beds of shrubs and trees on sidewalks, absorbing the runoff and limiting the flow of water to the drainage system. It marked a new, mixed approach to tackling their problems with excess rainfall; employing the power of nature itself alongside traditional, “grey” infrastructure.
Green Streets is an example of a “Nature-based Solution” — a policy that preserves, rehabilitates, protects and sustainably manages natural habitats, species, and ecosystems that have been damaged by human activity for environmental and societal benefits.
Read the original article on Apolitic’s website here.
GLAND, SWITZERLAND – It’s called the Extinction Wing. Located in a dark corner of the Paris Museum of Natural History, it houses a haunting collection of species that have long vanished from the natural world. With biodiversity declining faster than at any time in human history, what size museum will future generations need?