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Coming up

Keep up to date with the latest news and webinars
 
 
Exclusive Complimentary Passes for CitiesWithNature to attend the AIPH Virtual International Expo Conference
CitiesWithNature is a proud partner of the International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH)’s Virtual International Expo Conference on 30 September 2020. The exciting AIPH conference will take place in a dynamic, interactive 3D virtual environment – making it a brand-new experience that you do not want to miss out on. As a CitiesWithNature supporting partner, the AIPH have offered a limited number of complementary passes which are up for grabs exclusively for our CitiesWithNature family. If your city is interested in attending, learning more about hosting or being involved with an International Horticultural Expo, or networking with expo organisers, city representatives, urban developers, AIPH members, NGOs, international city and environmental organisations, then we would love to offer you the chance to attend.
 
 
 
 
9th European Conference on Sustainable Cities & Towns
From 30 September to 2 October, Mannheim2020 will host a virtual and free interactive conference promoting local transformation within Europe and seeks to identify solutions for major environmental, economic and social challenges. Register here.
 
 
 
Get Involved in Upcoming EU Events

The Covid-19 crisis has shown once more the importance of preserving and conserving nature and its ecosystem services. For a proper recovery of the European Union from the socio-economic consequences of the crisis, it is necessary to invest in the restoration and protection of nature. It is a necessary step to build a resilient Europe to future potential pandemics and other global challenges such as climate change. This will be one of the main topics of both the 18th European Week of Regions and Cities and the 2020 EU Green Week.

On 20 October 2020, the European Committee of the Regions will co-host with ICLEI-Europe and Regions4 a session that shares the successful EU cities and regions already committed to halt biodiversity loss and ecosystem services degradation, especially after Covid-19. It is an invitation to hear from EU cities and regions on their long-term goals and vision for 2030 on biodiversity.
 
 
 
 
 
Biodôme de Montréal reopening
The Biodôme de Montréal will be reopening to the public on August 31, 2020, and Espace pour la vie is inviting everyone to book their tickets for the reopening celebration now. In this iconic space with its magnificent architecture revealed once again, a revitalized, multisensory, far more immersive experience awaits as you make your way through the five ecosystems of the Americas.
“After more than two years of work, we have our Biodôme back—more beautiful, more relevant and more informative than ever! Thirty years after it opened, the Biodôme is still playing a leading role in showcasing our ecosystems and reminding us just how fragile and invaluable biodiversity is. For a year now, I have had the great honour of serving as the ICLEI’s Global Ambassador for Local Biodiversity and working to make the protection of biodiversity a global issue that everyone can get behind. 
A visit to the Biodôme reminds us just how lucky we are to live in a place with such rich biodiversity and underscores the enormous responsibility we have to protect and preserve it,” said Montréal mayor Valérie Plante.
 
 
 
NATURVATION’s NbS conference
Join the free online conference “Nature-Based Solutions: Unlocking Urban Potential” on 24 September 2020 which will draw on four years of research and practice undertaken through the NATURVATION project to explore how the urban potential of NbS can be unlocked.

 
 
 
UN Summit revised date

The United Nations Summit on Biodiversity will be convened by the President of the General Assembly on 30 September 2020 under the theme of “Urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development.” The Summit will highlight the crisis facing humanity from the degradation of biodiversity and the urgent need to accelerate action on biodiversity for sustainable development.
 
 
Voices of African cities in the localization of SDGs
As part of the ICLEI Africa and Rise Africa webinar series, the webinar on 1 September 2020 seeks to draw out key lessons and insights on SDGs localization from cities on the African continent.
 

 
 

Featuring our cities

We are proud to showcase the amazing work that our CitiesWithNature are doing
 
 

 
 
Urbana’s synthetic-free landscaping
The City of Urbana, Illinois, has partnered with the Integrated Pest Management Institute to initiate a synthetic chemical free landscaping program. Instead of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, the City will trial safer cultural practices including mowing high, core aerating, and compost topdressing on the south lawn of the Urbana City Building.
 
 
 
Manchester’s ‘My Wild City’
In an effort to connect people and wildlife within the City of Manchester, England, My Wild City is an initiative aimed at everyone living, working and studying in Manchester to help transform work places, gardens and our open spaces into a city-wide nature reserve.
 

 
Promoting home gardens in Kochi

ICLEI South Asia is conducting a long-term study on the ecosystem services provided by home gardens in the City of Kochi, India. This project aims to shed light on food security during a pandemic by helping cities promote home gardens and in establishing community farms in vacant land, rooftops and municipal schools.
 
 
 

In case you missed it

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

WHO manifesto for a healthy and green post-COVID recovery
The World Health Organization has developed a manifesto for a healthy and green post-COVID recovery, which identifies six steps to create a healthier, equitable, and greener world whilst investing in nature to maintain and resuscitate the global economy.
 
 
 
NbS for Climate Mitigation Report
This European Commission report draws on research and innovation by EU-funded projects to examine what works on the ground, as well as challenges that have been faced. The report offers a summary of knowledge, governance, and investment, and identifies policy recommendations and knowledge gaps for nature-based solutions.
 

IUCN Global Standard for NbS
IUCN recently launched a Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions.Cities and local governments are envisaged to be the primary users of this novel self-assessment tool, which address the pillars of sustainable development (biodiversity, economy and society) and resilient project management.
 

 
 
WEF’s New Nature Economy report
The World Economic Forum has developed a report aimed at
showcasing the relevance of nature loss in boardroom discussions on risk, opportunities and financing. These insights provide pathways for business to be part of the transition to a nature-positive economy.
 

NbS: opportunities and challenges for African cities

As part of ICLEI Africa’s webinar series dedicated to building sustainable cities during and after a pandemic, a recent webinar highlighted Nature-Based solutions and the opportunities and challenges they present for African cities.
 


 
What is the status and outlook for forested natural areas in your city?
In the latest global Roundtable brought to you by The Nature of Cities (TNOC), a wide variety of writers question both the status and outlook for forested natural areas in cities, and identify the relevant actions needed for these areas to thrive.
 

European Investment Bank promotes urban climate adaptation

Through the European Investment Advisory Hub, a partnership between the European Investment Bank and the European Commission, various nature-based solutions have been studied as a means for cities to become more resilient.
 
 
 
 

Post-2020

Keeping you up to date on key moments for biodiversity in the Post-2020 process
 
Edinburgh Process for Subnational Governments, Cities and Local Authorities on the development of the Post-2020 global biodiversity framework
The Edinburg Process, hosted by the Scottish Government and partners, is soon to reach a number of key milestones, including the publishing of the Edinburgh Declaration for sign on by supporting local and subnational governments. Watch this space!
 
Post-2020 webinars
Save the date and join us on 17 September 2020 for the next monthly Post 2020 webinar in the local and subnational advocacy for nature series! You can register for the webinar by clicking on your preferred time below. You can watch all previous webinars on our YouTube channel.
 
 
 
 
 
 

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.
 
 

Connect with us
 
 
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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