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Following the launch of RegionsWithNature, the BUZZ newsletter will from now on cover both cities and regions, showcasing how local and subnational governments are working with nature across urban-rural linkages.
NOVEMBER 2021
STAY IN THE LOOP
Keeping you up to date with interesting publications and news from our partners and network
More green spaces in European cities could prevent thousands of deaths each year
Living close enough to green space prevents people from dying prematurely in cities, according to a major new study.
How to measure the ecological performance of cities so people and nature can thrive
Rolling out both the #IUCN Urban Nature Index and the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity is now urgent if we are to systematically transform the health of urban ecosystems and shift city footprints from nature-negative to nature-positive, says experts.
The BiodiverCities Challenge is a global call for innovative solutions that are enabling cities to become nature-positive and fulfil their potential as engines of equitable and sustainable development, resilience, and well-being.
While tree cover is growing on public land, most Australian cities are losing ever more green cover on private land. Don’t miss this webinar on successful, scalable, urban greening and how to motivate everyday people to green their spaces.
CitiesWithNature affiliate UrbanByNature is offering a peer-to-peer course "Co-Producing Nature-based Solutions: Tips, tricks and tools for local governments and active citizens” from December to February.
What is the environmental outlook for cities around the world?
A major new UN report, the Global Environment Outlook for Cities: Towards Green and Just Cities identifies pathways to achieve net-zero circular cities that are resilient, sustainable, inclusive, and just.
Cities have long been considered species deserts, devoid of wildlife beyond pigeons and squirrels. But scientists are now recognizing that cities can play a significant role in fostering biodiversity.
Johannesburg makes a plan to deal with invasive alien species
Despite their negative impacts on ecosystem services, few cities have plans to manage invasive alien species. The City of Johannesburg in South Africa is working with CitiesWithNature partner organisation ICLEI to develop a comprehensive city-level plan to manage both plant and animal invaders.
San Antonio, Texas is a proud pioneer city of CitiesWithNature
San Antonio works actively to promote nature, including along its famous river walk.
Forging global agreements on biodiversity and climate change
Keeping you up to date on key moments in these processes
Regional governments make important contributions at COP26
Provinces, states and other regional governments called for multi-level governance and radical collaboration to deliver for climate at COP26. Regions4, a partner organisation of RegionsWithNature, amplified the voices of regional governments and hosted various events.
First part of UN Biodiversity Summit builds political momentum for ambitious decision next year
Over 100 nations signed the Kunming Declaration to protect biodiversity during the first part of the UN Biodiversity Summit COP15 in October. The document calls for "urgent and integrated" steps to tackle decreasing biodiversity around the world. At COP 15 Part 2 (25 April to 8 May 2022 in Kunming, China), Parties are expected to adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
Keeping you up to date with interesting publications and news from our partners and network
The five biggest threats to our natural world and how we can stop them
From destructive land use to invasive species, scientists have identified the main drivers of biodiversity loss – so that countries can collectively act to tackle them.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a new handbook Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for cities which provides detailed guidance to help cities address warming.
CitiesWithNature offers the latest tools and resources
Don’t forget to check out the CitiesWithNature Tools and Resources Hub, a digital library with over 200 tools and resources on biodiversity, nature-based solutions, ecosystem restoration and much more.
The Kijani Pamoja Movement, an initiative founded at the foothills of Kilimanjaro is a movement to inspire a "restoration generation" to fall in love with trees, and become the active environmental leaders that Africa and the world so desperately needs.
Keeping track of policies on nature-based solutions
The Nature-based Solutions Policy Tracker from Nature4Climate used an artificial intelligence (AI) policy search process, science-based policy assessment criteria, and case studies to collect key insights on the cutting edge of NbS policy.
Please share your stories of nature in your cities with us on this Google Formand 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.
