Geneva Environment Network 37d ago

The Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), the Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Sixth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya protocol on Access to Genetic Resources – also commonly referred to as the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference – will convene in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026. The 2026 edition of the International Day for Biological Diversity – celebrated every year on 22 May, commemorating the adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 1992 – will focus on “Acting locally for global impact”. In the lead-up to the UN Biodiversity Conference – which will be held under the theme of “Taking Action for Nature” – this year’s International Day for Biological Diversity campaign will help connect local initiatives with the 23 global targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), focusing the world’s attention on the importance of applying the whole-of-society approach adopted within the Framework. While governments that adopted the KMGBF at COP 15 are in the driver’s seat, collective progress in implementation depends on the mosaic of local efforts carried out by everyone. Applying the whole-of-society approach includes ways to enlist, enable, empower and leverage contributions of actors other than national governments: Indigenous Peoples and local communities, sub-national governments, cities and other local authorities, women and youth groups, businesses and financial institutions, and other civil society groups, among others. To mark the day, the Geneva Environment Network and its partners are organizing the traditional Geneva celebration to showcase the role of Geneva in leveraging local and global action for nature. In preparation for the 2026 UN Biodiversity Conference, leading experts from key Geneva-based UN institutions and processes speaking at the Geneva Celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity will update on preparations for this major milestone. They will also reflect on the need for inclusive, participatory and impactful whole-of-society action for nature, including through local mobilization for the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). The event will also offer a forward-looking perspective on the priorities, vision and expected outcomes of the Conference, including through a dedicated high-level intervention by the incoming Presidency of COP17, outlining ongoing preparatory efforts and key directions toward Yerevan. The celebration will feature Lightning Talks—dynamic five‑minute presentations in the PechaKucha format—where experts from various Geneva-based institutions will showcase how they are leveraging local and global action for nature. More information: https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/events/from-geneva-to-yerevan-leveraging-local-and-global-action-for-nature-towards-un-biodiversity-conference-cop17/