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On Wednesday, 16 April, the ICLEI Korea Office took center stage at the “2025 World Local Government Climate Summit” with a special side event: the CitiesWithNature Capacity-Building Workshop for Korean Local Governments. This interactive session was designed to elevate understanding of the CitiesWithNature initiative and empower ICLEI member cities in Korea to fully engage with this pioneering platform.

Cities around the world experience water as being either too little, too much, or too dirty, and often usually a combination of the three. Rapid urbanisation, climate change, biodiversity loss and landscape degradation mean that many cities are facing chronic water insecurity. In 2023 alone, two-thirds of the global population experienced water stress, while cities […]

With World Health Day coming up on the 7th of April, we reflect on how cities are more than concrete and skyscrapers – they are homes to millions seeking healthier, happier lives. By bringing nature back into the heart of urban living and fostering communities that thrive mentally and physically, cities can reshape how people […]

While wetland ecosystems are increasingly being recognized as highly valuable natural assets that provide a wide range of benefits to urban communities, the services they provide are under immense pressure due to rapid urban expansion and human activity. Cities are uniquely positioned to drive local action to protect our wetlands. Below are five key action […]

Ingrid Coetzee, Director, Nature Biodiversity & Health, ICLEI CBC The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) recently took place in Cali, Colombia, bringing together governments and organizations from across the globe to address escalating biodiversity loss.  While COP16 may not have concluded as hoped, many achievements were made. […]

The 8th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities: Taking Action for Biodiversity will gather Governors, Mayors and other subnational government leaders from around the world to engage directly with national leaders and their key stakeholders during the 16th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16). Engagements will focus on subnational biodiversity actions at the local and territorial scale, in contributing to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the Plan of Action under Decision 15/12.

Every year, the world’s focus turns to nature as we celebrate special days during the months of May and June. 2024 is no exception. Below, you’ll find a snapshot of the special days celebrated and the rallying call for us to do more to restore our natural world and protect biodiversity so both people and […]

Mexico City, Mexico In Mexico City, it is possible to observe 356 species of native birds, of which 47 species are in some local or international risk category. Of the total diversity, 120 species are resident. However, a large number of birds migrate or transit from North America to spend the winter, as the city […]

Opinion piece by Gareth Presch, CEO, World Health Innovation Summit

Valuing urban wetlands and human well-being 40% of all plant and animal species live or breed in wetlands. Wetlands play a significant role in supporting ecosystems and biodiversity, and they are deeply connected to human well-being. Although they cover only around 6 percent of the earth’s land surface, 40 percent of all plant and animal […]