EU regions and cities at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity: taking action for nature

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) will take place from 19 to 30 October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia. 

CBD COP17 will be a key moment for global biodiversity action. Its main focus will be the first global review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15, and whether countries are on track to deliver the 2030 biodiversity targets. 

The key message from the first global review of progress is clear: although the GBF has sparked unprecedented global commitment to taking action on biodiversity, the world is not on track to reverse biodiversity loss. 

Given the global decline in biodiversity, ecosystems and species – accelerating faster than at any time in human history – it is more urgent than ever that policymakers, governments and the whole of society turn these targets into action. 

Local and regional authorities have a central role to play. In 2022, the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity (2023-2030) was approved. This decision recognised the importance of cities and regions for implementing, monitoring and reporting on global biodiversity objectives. It was also the first time that the European Committee of the Regions was mentioned in an official UN biodiversity decision. 

COP17 is expected to review progress under this Plan of Action and offer a renewed opportunity to strengthen the formal engagement of subnational governments within the processes of the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD). For the CoR, this will be an important opportunity to show that biodiversity action is local action. 

Building on its participation in previous CBD conferences, the CoR will advocate for: 

1. strong multilevel governance for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework; 
2. the full involvement of local and regional authorities in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, monitoring and reporting; 
3. direct access to adequate financial and technical support for subnational biodiversity action; 
4. stronger links between biodiversity, climate action, water resilience, land restoration and sustainable development, and strengthen the processes of the Rio Conventions. 

The CoR will participate in the 9th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities, an official parallel event co-hosted by ICLEI, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Regions4, together with the host Government of Armenia and the City of Yerevan. Through its participation, the CoR will help amplify the voice of EU cities and regions and highlight their contribution to protecting nature, restoring ecosystems and delivering the Global Biodiversity Framework in practice.