Subnational Governments & Cities at CBD COP 16 | EVENT REPORT

The 8th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities, held on 26 October 2024 as an official parallel event to the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16), marked a historic milestone for multilevel biodiversity governance. Convened in Cali, Colombia, under the overarching COP 16 theme “Peace with Nature,” the Summit mobilized over 1,500 participants from 81 countries—including more than 250 local and subnational government leaders—under the banner of “Taking Action for Biodiversity.” Its three thematic pillars—Partnering, Progress, and Peace—framed a dynamic programme highlighting the crucial role of cities and regions in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).