The IUCN Local Action Summit took place on 3 September 2021—the opening day of the IUCN World Conservation Congress—in Marseille, France. Leaders convened to showcase and galvanise conservation efforts in cities and regions, make the case for a nature-based recovery to COVID-19, and announce ambitious action pledges for nature. Here follows a transcript of the speech delivered by the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Frank Ross.
In pursuit of a just world values and concerns nature, the City of Edinburgh Council is committed to continuing with our partners, 21 years of delivering the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan.
By ensuring a new plan is replaced by 2022, we will enhance biodiversity and the important ecosystem services it provides with a key focus on delivering projects to improve the city’s biodiversity. These include Edinburgh’s Nature Network, a program that demonstrates that investment in the natural environment makes economic sense, as well as increasing biodiversity and creating healthier, urban ecosystems. Green-blue network projects consist of planning strategies based on blue water-based elements, green vegetation-based elements, green technologies and low carbon and climate-resilient infrastructure. The blue-green network focuses on using natural systems in the region, resulting in a networked multifunctional green-blue infrastructure for the city. And the Million Tree Project, increasing the tree cover across the city, and supporting action to reach net-zero by 2030, and for the future generations to enjoy.
These key projects will enable all citizens to live in a city rich and biodiversity where the wellbeing of nature and people go hand in hand.
I’m also pleased at the Edinburgh City Council working in collaboration with the Royal Botanic Garden supports the Edinburgh Process for Biodiversity and in particular the Edinburgh Declaration, a political declaration that sets out our commitment to implement the post-2020 global biodiversity framework at the local level.
I will continue to support the Edinburgh Process to ensure transformative change for nature and as Lord Provost of Edinburgh, I invite you to join me in supporting the resulting Edinburgh Declaration of subnational governments, cities, and local authorities on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework so that we can all play our part to ensure transformative change for nature.
Over the next decade, our collective support for the Edinburgh Declaration will show global willingness to adopt a renewed plan of action for sub-national governments, cities and local authorities as part of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework at COP15. I wish you all very well at this important conference for the future health of our planet.