As an official parallel event to the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Global Biodiversity Summit of Local & Subnational Governments provides an important platform for local governments to engage with their peers on their pivotal and increasingly recognized contribution in achieving the objectives of the Convention. It also supports cities, states, and other local governments to enhance their capacities and make impacts on biodiversity at the local level. 

The CBD COP-15 will be held in Kunming, Yunnan Province of China. Under this framework, ICLEI plans to co-host the 7th Global Biodiversity Summit of Cities & Subnational Governments with the Kunming City Government. Recently, Shu Zhu, Regional Director of ICLEI East Asia visited the COP preparatory group of Kunming led by the Executive Deputy Director Daoxing Wang. An in-depth exchange on the Summit’s preparatory work was conducted among the city’s COP preparatory group and its associated departments, ICLEI, as well as relevant key stakeholders.

The COP preparatory group and ICLEI have agreed on the momentousness of hosting the 7th Summit, and had further discussion on potential thematic focuses, logistical support, and expected outcomes. All parties are determined to accelerate the preparation work, ensuring a successful high-level international event where local and regional governments can share their practices, jointly promote the mainstreaming of biodiversity conservation in cities, and provide a healthy and vibrant urban environment at the local level.

 

Left to right: Jun Chen, Deputy Director of the Kunming Ecological Environment Bureau; Shu Zhu, Director of ICLEI East Asia; Daoxing Wang, Executive Deputy Leader of the COP15 preparatory group of Kunming; Ding Xiao, Investigator of the Kunming Ecological Environment Bureau