The political objective of this own-initiative opinion is to adopt the official position of the CoR to disseminate in the ongoing preparatory meetings and events towards the 15th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UN CBD COP 15) and consequently to contribute to the post-2020 EU Biodiversity Strategy.
The next CBD COP foresees the adoption of the new global policy framework for biodiversity to 2030, at global level. In order to deliver on these global commitments, the EU will have to adopt its own post-2020 biodiversity policy framework in 2021.
The opinion would highlight the importance of the contribution from subnational governments to achieve current and future biodiversity targets, as well as the multiple benefits of biodiversity to a range of objectives that matter particularly at subnational level.
The opinion would also contribute to the ongoing discussion on the next MFF by reinforcing the messages delivered by the CoR opinion on LIFE by the rapporteur, Marco Dus (IT/PES), for the Nature and Biodiversity sub-programme. Reflection on the MFF is a necessary step to guarantee the operationalisation of the next EU budget on ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
The opinion would also address key elements that the next Commission should take into consideration for the preparation of the 2021-2030 EU Biodiversity Strategy.
The proposed CoR opinion could:
reflect on the key role of subnational governments in the development of the next biodiversity policy framework, including through contributing to the Sharm el Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People;
formulate recommendations on how subnational governments can formally be recognised in the implementation and MRV (monitoring, reporting and verification) of the post-2020 biodiversity policy framework. This includes formulating recommendations on capacity building for the implementation and enforcement of such a framework;
financial mechanisms for biodiversity action by LRAs: specific stream of funding under the current LIFE programme, and from different sources. It is also necessary to address opportunities beyond local/regional public financing: national, EU and/or crowdfunding;
propose how subnational governments could communicate the new policy framework; both at global and EU level.