Montreal, 10 December 2022- As the largest biodiversity conference in a decade kicked off in Montreal, mayors from 15 cities around the world called for increased direct financing to allow cities to implement ambitious greening and ecosystem restoration projects.
With the planet experiencing a decline in nature at rates unprecedented in human history and thelargest loss of animal and plant species since the dinosaurs cities can play an important role to address biodiversity loss.
Cities must be part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis, said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of UNEPs Economy Division. We hope mayors call for increased, direct investment will not fall on deaf ears so that they can unleash the power of nature in cities.
Cities are on the front line of the socio-economic impacts of climate change and ecosystem loss, and already taking ambitious action to protect and restore nature.
Cities around the world, like Barranquilla, are acting decidedly to protect their ecosystems, address the impacts of climate change, and improve the well-being of their citizens; however, more partners and resources will be needed to successfully scale financing nature in cities said Jaime Pumarejo Heins, Mayor of Barranquilla, Colombia. Today, we make a call for increased financing for cities to take action on nature. Lets work together, international community and local authorities, hand-in-hand, to take this message forward to Davos next month and unleash the power of nature in cities and meet global biodiversity and sustainability goals.
According to UNEPs 2022 State of Finance for Nature
