The wake-up call
We are out of sync with nature
The world has fundamentally shifted since we met at CBD COP15 and COP16. We are no longer forecasting a crisis, we are living it in a world that is out of sync with nature.
In 2022 at COP15 in Montreal, we learned that we are consuming resources at a rate of 1.6 Earths to maintain our current way of life, and ecosystems cannot keep up with our demands. Land degradation impacts around 40 percent of the global population; and biodiversity loss threatens progress toward 35 out of 44 of the targets of SDGs on poverty, hunger, health, water cities, climate, oceans and land. In response, the world rallied to adopt the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
Global temperatures breached the 1.5°C threshold for the first time in 2024.
Last year, the UN’s Global Environment Outlook 7 (GEO-7) delivered a stark warning: “business-as-usual” is no longer an option, as interconnected crises across climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, and pollution are pushing planetary systems toward irreversible thresholds.
Today we live in a world where these trends have not only intensified, but a world that is characterized by geo-political shifts, straining the multilateral system that underpins the Rio Conventions and increasing propensity for conflict.
It is also a world in which we are seeing an alarming increase in extreme weather events and natural disasters: Our planet is sending an undeniable message through historic droughts, catastrophic fires, melting glaciers and unprecedented floods.
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), compared dealing with the impacts of these disasters to ‘staring down the barrel of a gun’. UNEP’s recent Report on Limiting Overshoot – Navigating exceedance of 1.5°C and pathways towards return tells us that climate overshoot is a harsh reality, but not an excuse to quit. It is a strong call to action, not an argument for resignation. We must drive mitigation and adaptation forward together, with absolute urgency.
The turning point
Triple COP year and CBD COP17 focus
But there is light at the end of the tunnel! Across the world, cities, local authorities and subnational governments are fighting biodiversity loss, restoring ecosystems and proving that change is possible. Global, national and local leaders, the business and industry sector, and society at large recognize that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation has become one of the greatest challenges to sustainable development and human wellbeing: Humanity’s future depends on thriving nature and healthy ecosystems. This core truth shapes the vision of the Armenian CBD COP Presidency, of ‘act locally for global impact’ as the theme for CBD COP17.
CBD COP17 will focus on the global review report of collective progress in implementing the KMGBF. While the KMGBF has generated unprecedented global engagement, action, innovation and learning across all 23 targets, with only four years to go to the 2030 milestone, the global scorecard is not looking good. Progress is uneven. Many Parties have reflected the Rio Conventions and other multilateral environmental agreements in their NBSAPS; numerous international agreements and initiatives are mentioned across the national targets and national reports; and examples of integrated planning across biodiversity and climate, food, water, health, land-use and/or other development objectives exist. Yet there are gaps and much remains to be done. Without rapid and urgent acceleration, implementation will remain inadequate to achieve the 2030 targets.
“Right now we are at the halfway point of the implementation of the ambitious global targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – the KMGBF. In order to fully implement this blueprint for our planet’s life-support system, we need action at all levels and across all parts of society. Local action, including through subnational governments, is key to meeting this global ambition. We welcome the partnership with ICLEI. Engaging cities, local governments and municipalities around the world is an essential part of the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference taking place in October in Yerevan [and beyond],” says Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Historic milestone
Subnational governments empowered to act
For the first time in history, a Rio Convention will formally review how cities and subnational governments help save our planet. CBD COP17 will review the role of subnational governments, cities and other local authorities in implementing the objectives of the CBD and KMGBF. This groundbreaking review will sit alongside the global review.
This shifts the role of cities and subnational governments from simply being recognized – through Decision 15/12 – to being fully empowered. They are now true co-guardians of our planet, sharing the responsibility to deliver on global targets as implementers of action on the ground.
The targets are set. The clock is ticking. It’s time to turn local action into global impact.
Bridging local and global
ICLEI’s mandate within the CBD
Local and subnational governments are recognized as one of the nine major groups within the CBD, and ICLEI and Regions4 jointly serve as the focal point organization for local and subnational governments, acting on behalf of the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments (GTF). ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center (CBC) serves as the official focal point for cities and other local authorities, while Regions4 fulfils this role in respect of subnational governments. ICLEI CBC also serves as the secretariat of the CBD Advisory Committee on Cities and Biodiversity established under CBD Decision 10/22 and renewed in Decision 15/12.
Decision 15/12 also recognizes CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature, as commitment and reporting platforms where local and subnational governments can report on, and track progress against, their commitments to contributing to the implementation of the KMGBF and NBSAPs.
“CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature are critical global partnership initiatives that support local and subnational governments to integrate nature and biodiversity into urban planning, policy, and management. They give us an opportunity to learn from one another, report and showcase our actions, and demonstrate that cities and municipalities can be leaders in addressing biodiversity loss, adapting to climate change, and achieving ecosystems-based urbanization,” said Alfredo Coro, Mayor of Del Carmen Philippines and Political Lead of ICLEI’s Biodiversity Portfolio. “COP17 will review the role of cities and regions in attaining global biodiversity targets, but we cannot be credited for what no one can see. The CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature reporting platforms, hosted by ICLEI, are how local action becomes global evidence of impact; evidence of positive change is what unlocks support and financing for replication and scaling to other communities.”
Global Summits for Subnational Governments & Cities
Over the past two decades, ICLEI has collaborated closely with the United Nations CBD, Biodiversity COP host countries and cities, and its key partners, such as Regions4 and UNEP, to elevate the voice of local and subnational governments at the biodiversity COPs. This collaboration has not only resulted in global summits for the local and subnational government constituency, as official parallel events at the COPs, but also a seat and voice in the negotiations. This has led to the adoption of more than 20 decisions recognizing cities and regions contributions to the CBD and global biodiversity targets, including the dedicated decision providing for a multilevel governance mechanism and plan of action on engaging subnational governments and cities.
This 9th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities will take place on 24 October 2026, in Yerevan, Armenia, building on this legacy of leadership, collaboration and policy impact, and continuing to strengthen the role of cities and regions at the forefront of global biodiversity action. It will be co-hosted by ICLEI, the Secretariat of the CBD and Regions4, along with the host Government of Armenia and the City of Yerevan. Additional partners include UNEP, the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, UN Habitat, CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature.
“On behalf of Yerevan, I am thrilled to welcome city leaders, governors, and local representatives from around the world to our ancient yet forward-looking capital for the 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities at COP17,” said Tigran Avinyan, Mayor of Yerevan, Armenia. He continues, “cities are no longer just on the frontlines of climate impacts but rather the architects of solutions. Revitalizing green spaces and modernizing public transport, embedding sustainable infrastructure into centuries-old urban landscapes are an important part of our daily job. True climate action is built from the ground up, in our neighborhoods, communities, and municipalities. As the host city, Yerevan stands ready to bridge dialogue with action, uniting local leadership to drive bold, decisive, and inclusive climate resilience for generations to come.”
Closed high level meeting for subnational and local government leaders
On the evening prior to the Summit, a closed high level meeting held under the Chatham House Rule, will provide political leaders representing local and subnational governments with the opportunity to voice and communicate their ambitions and commitments in addressing the priorities set by the COP17 Presidency.
Other subnational and local government opportunities, activities and platforms
In addition, ICLEI will be active throughout the two weeks at various events and at the Subnational and Local Authorities Hub, which we coordinate with our partner, Regions4. There are numerous other opportunities for local and subnational governments to engage throughout the COP, including a Local and Subnational Governments Day and many side events. Explore these here.
ICLEI's position for COP17
The debate has moved from calling for recognition to being acknowledged as implementers of the CBD and KMGBF. Now the call is focused on acceleration and maximizing synergies between biodiversity and climate actions, global targets, commitments and initiatives that already exist. What hinders integrated delivery is fragmentation across planning systems, financing structures, reporting processes, and national coordination mechanisms. ICLEI calls for accelerated biodiversity action and integrated implementation across all three Rio Conventions, as well as with biodiversity related MEA’s such as the Conventions on Wetlands of International Importance and Migratory Species of Wild Animals. Our position is outlined below:
1
Align and integrate implementation
The first thing we need to change is to respond to the multiple planetary crises we are facing, in an integrated and systemic way. The science is clear – they are deeply interconnected, mutually reinforcing crises that cannot be solved independently. The UN’s 7th Global Environmental Outlook (GEO-7) warns that human activities are pushing planetary systems toward dangerous “tipping points”, where climate warming accelerates nature’s destruction, and the loss of nature exacerbates climate change, with ripple effects on water and food security. We URGENTLY need to do MORE to develop and work WITH nature across multiple planetary agendas. Our policies, programs and plans to address and advance climate mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, land degradation, pollution, water and food security must advance in tandem, and not one at the cost of another. While we recognize the autonomy of the three Rio Conventions and associated Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), we call on Parties to align and strengthen synergies between their strategies under these international agreements: Greater alignment between NBSAPs, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets will improve efficiencies and effectiveness in achieving global targets, not just at national level, but also on the ground at local and subnational levels where the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, food and water insecurity are felt most directly. Furthermore, this needs to be supported by stronger coordination between environment, climate, agriculture, finance and local government ministries; and between national and subnational levels of government.
2
Accelerate and expand action on the ground
Everyone agrees that we have run out of time, urgently need to accelerate action: The overriding signal from the CBD’s Global Report on Collective Progress in the Implementation of the KMGBF is blunt: The world is not yet on track to meet the 2030 targets or the 2050 Goals and Vision. While ambition and action exist, implementation is not moving fast enough or reaching the right people in the right places. Governments alone cannot achieve the vision of living in harmony with nature. It requires a collective, concerted and coordinated whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort. To move the needle and accelerate implementation, we must drastically scale up and expand solutions and innovations at the urban and territorial levels, and recognize city and subnational actions for biodiversity. The difficulty lies in the mismatch between global ambitions and local realities: While global goals and targets are set and agreed by national governments, the actual work must happen in cities and subnational territories. Yet at these levels, there are other priorities and several deep systemic barriers. Cities and subnational governments are implementing actions and initiatives that contribute towards the goals and targets of the KMGBF. We call on governments at all levels to work together in addressing governance, finance, socio-economic, planning and knowledge challenges to scaling and accelerating implementation.
3
Reinforce local and subnational governments as implementers
Cities and subnational governments operate at the level where government is closest to the people. While they are recognized as a constituent part of governments under the CBD through Decisions 10/22 and 15/12, their unique role and contributions to the implementation of the KMGBF warrants reinforcement under the whole-of-government approach. They are part of the government structure and accountable to their citizens and communities for delivering certain services and infrastructure. Cities and subnational governments are not stakeholders – they are partners of national governments in delivery and implementation. In this way they differ from stakeholders outside of government such as the business sector, youth, women, indigenous peoples and local communities, and the scientific community. On the other hand, cities and subnational governments must actively partner with stakeholders from the whole of society to address finance, knowledge, and other gaps and barriers to accelerating implementation. We urge Parties to build upon and implement successive COP decisions recognizing the role of local and subnational governments, including the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity.
4
Track local success, making the invisible visible
Although many subnational and local governments around the world have made commitments and taken actions in support of implementing the KMGBF, these are done voluntarily, and many are not captured in national reports or on the CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature platforms. The Global Review recognizes that their contributions are not yet being fully realized, accounted for and supported, or consistently reflected in planning, monitoring and reporting. Therefore, much of what is happening on the ground remains invisible. This in turn means that we do not know or have a full picture of the true extent of implementation progress and the most pressing gaps. We urge Parties to intensify their efforts in encouraging subnational and local governments to report and track their commitments and actions on CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature. And we call for aligning and reducing the reporting burden on governments at all levels, and implement an ‘input once, multiple outputs’ approach to reporting, as recommended by the Bern III Conference on Cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions for the implementation of the KMGBF.
5
Mobilize direct finance for local and subnational governments
While local and subnational governments are on the front lines of nature conservation, they frequently lack the necessary financial resources, technical capacity and structural support to scale up their contributions to the KMGBF. To unlock their full potential, we call for the establishment of guaranteed, simplified, and direct financing pathways that connect cities and regional authorities to global climate, biodiversity and land degradation funds. Furthermore, we encourage Parties to establish the enabling regulatory frameworks for biodiversity credits and other innovative finance instruments to attract private investment in biodiversity. By unlocking direct access to these resources, alongside innovative blended finance models and private investments, we can accelerate urban nature initiatives, scale up local targets, and fully capture the multiple climate, social and ecological benefits that integrated local projects naturally deliver.
Four years to 2030
Turning local action into global impact
CBD COP17 comes at a defining moment. With only four years left to reach the 2030 targets, the world cannot afford another round of uneven progress. For the first time, cities and subnational governments will be formally reviewed as implementers of the KMGBF, and they are ready to show what they can deliver. By integrating implementation across planetary agendas, accelerating action, reinforcing local and subnational governments as implementers, tracking local success and unlocking direct finance, governments at all levels can close the gap between global ambition and local reality. ICLEI calls on every city and region to commit and report their actions on CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature, and on Parties to ensure those contributions are counted and supported. In Yerevan, let us prove that acting locally truly delivers global impact.