Urban areas cover just 3% of Earth’s surface but house over half the population. By 2050, 68% of people will live in cities. As cities expand, they take land from agriculture and other ecosystems, intensifying pressure on natural resources. While cities are the main contributors to the triple planetary crisis of biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution, they are also where the solutions lie to address them in an integrated manner. GEF and GenerationRestoration cities are leading the way and demonstrating concrete ways to implement of Target 12 of the Global Biodiversity Framework on “enhancing green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity”, but the road has not always been easy.

This event will focus on transformative actions taken by the cities to address the challenges and shortcomings encountered, and what to do when things are not going your way. It will build on the experience of GEF and GenerationRestoration cities and trigger an honest action-oriented discussion on what went wrong and what actions were taken to make it right and to increase financing flows for nature.

Objectives

• Reflect on local governments' role in achieving GBF target 12.
• Showcase transformative actions taken by the Cities to mitigate challenges and shortcomings when implementing actions to enhance green spaces and urban planning for human well-being and biodiversity.
• Elaborate on critical actions to ensure impactful implementation, avoid tradeoffs and increase financing flows for urban nature.