Two advisory committees bring the perspective of governments below the national level into the work of the Convention: one for cities and local authorities, one for states, regions and provinces.

Advisory Committee on Local Governments and Biodiversity. Brings the perspective of cities and local authorities. Supported by ICLEI, it traces its origin to the committee of mayors first convened in 2007, which brought together the mayors of Montréal — the Convention's host city — and of Curitiba, Bonn and Nagoya.

The Conference of the Parties recognized the committee in decision X/22 (2010).

Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity. Brings the perspective of states, regions and provinces. Supported by Regions4 and jointly coordinated with the Government of Québec, it was established in Curitiba in April 2012, hosted by the State of Paraná.

How the committees work

ICLEI and Regions4 lead intersessional preparatory meetings and teleconferences with their members. The work of both committees feeds into the Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities held at each meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Decision XII/9 (2014) was the first COP decision to address both committees.

For the history of the Global Partnership on Subnational and Local Governments for Biodiversity, see Historical Milestones.

Related organizations

ICLEI - Cities Biodiversity Center

Regions4