ICLEI Member Berlin has signed the Berlin Urban Nature Pact, kick-starting the process of building a global alliance of cities that will enact bold biodiversity action locally. As our cities develop and expand, biodiversity in urban areas is under threat. To minimise this decline in species variation and to protect our urban ecosystems, it is vital that cities act now.
The Berlin Urban Nature Pact calls on cities to move from pledges to action, and builds on existing international agreements such as the Edinburgh Declaration and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. More specifically, the Pact serves as an actionable pathway to enable cities to generate the transformative change needed to set nature on the path to recovery, and make cities more liveable for all. To this end, the Pact sets 28 SMART goals across key areas like species and habitats, water management and blue infrastructure, soil health, and food and agriculture. Cities that sign on need to meet a minimum of 15 of these goals. The Pact also offers concrete implementation guidance and principles to aid cities in their activities.
As Holger Robrecht, Deputy Regional Director of ICLEI Europe remarks: “The Berlin Urban Nature Pact provides an actionable pathway showcasing the capacity of regions, cities and their communities for implementing the Kunming - Montreal global biodiversity framework. Through the Berlin Pact, cities will lead the way in addressing the global biodiversity emergency by protecting and restoring nature, ensuring the resilience of their communities and generating many other benefits.”
Under the banner of the Pact, cities will establish a community of practitioners to exchange knowledge and practicable ideas for solving common challenges together and mainstreaming nature-based solutions into their urban planning.
If your city is interested in joining the Pact, stay tuned for its official launch at COP-16 in Cali, Colombia. Until then, explore the Pact here. Furthermore, interested stakeholders may join cities, experts and practitioners from all over Europe at the 10th European Conference on Sustainable Cities and Towns - #Aalborg2024 - held from 1-3 October 2024 in Aalborg, Denmark to receive exclusive insights from cities about their Urban Nature Plans (UNPs). In a dedicated session, conference participants can connect with cities and learn more about UNPs as workable tools for city planning. For the full programme visit here.
ICLEI members can furthermore register to the upcoming member webinar on Urban Nature Plans in the European policy context this fall. Find the agenda and full series of webinars here.
Read the full press release "Berlin Urban Nature Pact: A Bold Step Towards Sustainable Cities and Biodiversity Protection" here.