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AUGUST 2021

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

STAY IN THE LOOP

Keeping you up to date with interesting publications and news from our partners and network

 

 
USA needs 30 million new trees to combat shade disparity
 

Trees in the US cities are spread unevenly: areas with more people of colour or more poverty often have fewer trees. To address this imbalance 30 million new trees need to be planted, according to a major new report.
 
Madrid to create a 75 kilometre green ring around the city
 
 
 

This “green wall” of half a million trees encircling the city will provide much needed cooling in the face of global heating and will also absorb some carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

 
 
 
 
8 80 Cities partners with CitiesWithNature
 

What if everything we do in our public spaces is great for an 8 year old and an 80 year old? 8 80 Cities challenges cities to plan, design and manage their public spaces in ways that improve people’s quality of life regardless of age, ability, socioeconomic status, race, gender-identity, ethnicity, or cultural background. CitiesWithNature and 8 80 Cities will collaborate on communications, technical assistance, capacity building and more.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nature in our cities
 

If urbanisation is done right, cities will help us to deliver energy, health services, jobs and so much more to those who lack them. But cities have to work with the natural world, not against it. If cities can innovate and reinvent themselves now by investing in nature-based solutions, we can slow climate change and biodiversity loss. This was UNEP head Inger Andersen’s message at a recent event.
 
 
 
From design to city life: what it takes to bring nature-based solutions to urban reality
 

Cities around the globe are seeing an increased civic interest and appreciation of nature in the city. However, the challenges of progressing from ideas and designs to realizing and implementing nature-based solutions in cities remain.
 
First of its kind study quantifies how tree shade can cancel urban heat island effect
 

The researchers’ model could help planners figure out the best places to add green spaces and plant trees in cities, and even how to design and situate buildings to maximize the shade they provide to other buildings and roads.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

FEATURING OUR CITIES

We are proud to showcase the amazing work of our CitiesWithNature

 

 
Australia holds first webinar on CitiesWithNature
 

ICLEI Oceania kicked off its new CitiesWithNature webinar series on 14 July with a session targeted at Elected Members of city councils. It highlighted the importance of embedding nature and biodiversity in all city plans to boost the health and liveability of communities.
 
 
 
Durban tackles heat island effect
 

South Africa’s third largest city recently signed an urban nature declaration to expand, restore and invest in trees, parks and green spaces as part of its climate change planning, alongside 31 other cities around the world.
 
 
 
 
Opportunity for communities in the USA to engage with UN biodiversity pact
 

A 6-part “Biodiversity Bootcamp” learning-and-leadership virtual training series will enable cities to engage with the proceedings of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s major meeting from 12 to 28 October. Sessions will cover frameworks, indicators and metrics, implementing nature-based solutions, financing solutions, and more. It will be free and open to all registrants globally, with a focus on U.S. cities, towns and counties. Watch for the sign-up form in the next BUZZ, and get in touch below!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

POST-2020

Keeping you up to date on key moments for biodiversity in the Post-2020 process

 

 
Post-2020 webinars
 

The upcoming nature-advocacy webinar, ‘First Draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and how it affects local and subnational governments’ will be hosted on 5 August at 10AM and 3PM CEST.
 
 
New report on Edinburgh Process
 

This report covers the outcomes from global online engagements held between April and July on the role of subnational and local governments in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
 

Design and layout of this report has been funded by the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework-EU Support project. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by Expertise France. It aims at facilitating a comprehensive and participatory process leading to the adoption of an ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that fosters commitment and implementation.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Keeping you up to date with interesting publications and news from our partners and network

 

 
Reshaping our future through local and subnational biodiversity action
 

Over the past two decades, ICLEI, through its Cities Biodiversity Center, has worked closely with the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and a range of partners to elevate the voice of local and subnational governments and ensure that strong action is taken to create vibrant cities and regions, where people and biodiversity can thrive.
 
 
 
Understanding the Biodiversity COP: Cities and Regions committing for nature
 
 
 
 
 

Explore why local and subnational governments, their leaders and urban communities should care about CBD COP15 and take action for nature.
 
 
 
 
 
The value of cities for nature
 

This exciting new poster shows how cities are important for nature and how CitiesWithNature are reshaping our future.
 
 
Just launched: Our Tools and Resources Hub!
 

This new functionality on the CitiesWithNature platform offers a wide range of reliable resources and cutting-edge tools on biodiversity, nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration, and more.

 
National Park City Week 2021
 

Want to make your city greener, healthier and wilder? Curious about National Park Cities and want to learn more? Thinking of campaigning to make your city a National Park City? Find out more about the recent National Park City Week below.
 
 
AIPH World Green City Awards – Now open for online entries!
 
 
 

AIPH, the International Association of Horticultural Producers and the world’s champion for the power of plants, proudly presents the AIPH World Green City Awards 2022. AIPH and its partners invite all cities, large and small, to enter these prestigious awards today! Demonstrate your city’s ambitious actions for urban nature and contribute to inspiring a global movement in support of living green.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Have your say
Please share your stories of nature in your cities with us on this Google Form and stand a chance to be featured in the next CitiesWithNature Buzz.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The current global pandemic is calling us to increasingly connect online. CitiesWithNature, a first-of-its-kind initiative, is supporting an online community of practice and enabling learning and action around integrating nature in cities and reconnecting people with nature. We all need nature now, more than ever before. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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