One of the main themes of the COP15 Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, Canada was the role of regions and cities in addressing the biodiversity crisis. Many cities and regions around the world are taking significant steps to protect and promote biodiversity, and the Conference provided a platform for these efforts to be recognized and shared with the global community, writes Renew Europe in the European Committee of the Regions.

Europe's regions and cities are contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, by implementing policies to protect natural areas and reduce the negative impacts of urbanisation on biodiversity. In Sweden, Councillor Frida Nilsson has taken action to stop the decline of pollinators and protect their habitats. She highlighted this and other key issues as part of the European Committee of the Regions' delegation at the COP15 Conference on Biodiversity, stating:

"Pollinators are important to our ecosystems that we and our societies are dependent on. Pollinators contribute to our food production, climate resiliency and biodiversity. Local and regional authorities are key actors to raise awareness on biodiversity and in particular on pollinators. While the role of regional governments should be formally recognised in the global biodiversity framework, more resources still need to be devoted to improving capacity building, technical assistance delivery and funding to successfully implement nature positive measures on the ground."

In addition, regions and cities are playing a key role in raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity and encouraging individuals to take action to protect it. This includes education and outreach efforts and the promotion of environmentally-friendly lifestyles and consumption patterns. The role of regions and cities in this Conference was crucial in helping to address the global biodiversity crisis, to help conserve and sustainably use the world’s biodiversity for the benefit of all.

🗣"Subnational governments can save #Biodiversity2022!"
🌎Frida Nilsson (@Centerpartiet) at #COP15 #COP15montreal for @EU_CoR: 👇
▶https://t.co/FMFYqWURsy pic.twitter.com/7FdiGa8KdK

— Renew Europe CoR (@RenewEuropeCoR) December 19, 2022