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P
eople
:
social
inclusion
,
green
jobs
,
education
need that “by 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated
into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies.”
Subnational governments have a crucial role to play in biodi-
versity goals by translating international and national directives
into subnational economic strategies and policies related to public
investments, ecosystem services and green public procurement
programmes; spatial planning and land use strategies; compensa-
tion measures for biodiversity protection; and education to inform
citizens’ and consumers’ behaviours.
Decision X/22, adopted by the parties of the CBD at their tenth
conference in October 2010 in Nagoya, endorsed the Plan of Action
on Subnational Governments, Cities and other Local Authorities for
Biodiversity 2011-2020.
3
The plan provides national governments with
a set of guidelines to follow at their discretion in support of local and
subregional implementation of the convention. It invites the CBD parties
to involve subnational governments, cities and other local authorities
when revising their national biodiversity strategies and action plans; and
to encourage them to elaborate their respective subnational and local
strategies and action plans. Additionally, the plan refers to the establish-
ment of advisory committees in cities and on subnational governments,
which will provide input and support to the plan of action.
Accredited to the UN CBD and a partner in the Global Partnership
for Biodiversity, nrg4SD enjoys close collaboration with the Secretariat
of the Convention. In fact, in adopting the plan of action, Decision
X/22 identifies nrg4SD as a key partner for the set-up of an Advisory
Committee of Subnational Governments. The Advisory Committee
was launched in April 2011 in Curitiba, Brazil with the direct partici-
pation of subnational governments across the world – including
members of nrg4SD. The Advisory Committee leads on develop-
ing subnational biodiversity strategies and action plans in support
of, and in close collaboration with, national governments and local
authorities. It also promotes collaboration between different levels of
governments, and coordinates efforts by subnational governments in
support of the CBD plan of action. Its ultimate objective is to advise
parties in the implementation of that plan.
Consensus on water
The lack of drinking water and adequate sanitation is a serious threat
to human health, affecting the most vulnerable sectors of both urban
and rural communities. The World Water Council has acknowledged
the major role of subnational and local governments in achieving water-
related targets under the Millennium Development Goals and has
developed a Local and Regional Authorities Process in the
framework of the editions of the World Water Forum.
In collaboration with the Regions United/FOGAR,
nrg4SD and several of its subnational governments partici-
pated intensively in the preparation of the 6th World
Water Forum held on 12-17 March 2012 in Marseilles,
France. Their efforts focused on the official session of the
forum dedicated to the role of subnational governments,
as well as on the Istanbul Water Consensus.
4
According
to the WorldWater Council, at the end of the forum, local
and regional authorities obtained a historical recognition.
In addition, the Istanbul Water Consensus reached 1,070
signatories from local and subnational leaders committed
to bringing concrete solutions for guaranteeing the recog-
nition that access to good quality water and sanitation is
a basic human right – one that plays an essential role in
life and livelihoods, health and the fight against poverty.
In April 2010 nrg4SD adopted a memorandum of under-
standing spanning 2010-2014, for a cooperation framework
on water issues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
This framework includes a long list of governments from
LAC and the Iberian Peninsula wishing to establish long-
term collaboration on water issues related to sustainable
development. The objectives of the memorandum are:
• education, training capacity and awareness on water
issues, with emphasis on the participation of women
• exchange of advice on water planning
• collaboration for research, innovation and develop-
ment related to hydrology
• monitoring of the ecological status of water bodies
• implementation of the International Decade of Water
Life 2005-2015.
Activities carried out under this framework include
meetings of experts, online courses and exchange
programmes between water agencies.
Empowering coherent action
In conclusion, because sustainable development happens
at the subnational and local levels, it is essential to fully
ensure the territorial dimension of any international
agreements and policies in this field. This territorial
dimension acts as a reality check of what can actually
work on the ground, and constitutes an essential driver
for deploying action at the rapid pace required.
The goals of a multilateral agreement for sustainable
development cannot be achieved without the contribution
of all levels of government. In this context, in a post-Rio
scenario the full potential of subnational and local govern-
ments as governmental stakeholders must be recognized
and transposed into enhanced engagement within the
United Nations decision-making processes. This is not
about questioning the role of UnitedNationsMember States
as sovereign representatives in United Nations multilater-
alism. It is about empowering coherent, complementary
and synergetic action from all tiers of government. In a
nutshell, it is about multi-level governance and leadership
in the interest of a much-needed realistic, courageous and
results-oriented path towards sustainable development.
The TACC programme helps develop low-emissions climate-resilient strategies
Image: nrg4SD