The Convention has adopted two successive Plans of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity. Each sets voluntary actions for subnational and local governments aligned to the biodiversity framework of its decade.
Plan of Action 2023–2030
Adopted by Decision 15/12, the current Plan renews the mandate under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It sets out a multilevel governance approach connecting national and subnational action, and recognizes CitiesWithNature and RegionsWithNature as the platforms where local and subnational governments register commitments and report progress.
It pursues four objectives:
increasing the engagement of subnational governments, cities and other local authorities in implementing and reporting on the Framework
improving regional and global coordination and the exchange of lessons learned
identifying and disseminating policy tools, guidelines and financial mechanisms appropriate to each level of government
facilitating awareness-raising programmes
It is structured around seven action areas: biodiversity strategies reflecting subnational involvement; collaboration between levels of government and mainstreaming; resource mobilization; capacity development; communication, education and public awareness; assessment and information for decision-making; and monitoring and reporting.
Decision 15/12 also requests the Executive Secretary to undertake a review of the role of subnational governments, cities and other local authorities in implementing the Convention and the Framework, and to submit it to the Subsidiary Body on Implementation before COP 17.
First Plan of Action 2011–2020
Endorsed by Decision X/22 and aligned to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Targets, this first Plan organized action around capacity-building, tools and reporting, and invited Parties to involve subnational governments in revising their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.
Over the decade it anchored the tools that shaped action and engagement: the Singapore Index on Cities' Biodiversity, The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Local and Regional Policy Makers, the Local Action for Biodiversity guidebooks, and the first Cities and Biodiversity Outlook. It also created and strengthened support from partners such as UN-Habitat, the city governments hosting the COPs, networks like ICLEI and nrg4SD (now Regions4), and other UN agencies working closely with the Secretariat.
