Planning and Investing in Cities for Nature and Nature for Cities

When

Nov 05, 2024

Time

01:00 PM

Where

Cairo, Egypt

 
This Global Environment Facility (GEF) and World Bank event, held in collaboration with UNEP, explored how cities are enhancing urban biodiversity and advancing the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) through integrated approaches to policy, planning, investment, and innovation. The event was part of the World Economic Forum, which took place from November 4 to 8, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt. 

Event summary 

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) goals are not achievable without planning for and investing in urban biodiversity. With more than half of the world's population living in urban areas, cities have a significant impact on the environment, while being at the forefront of the consequences of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Cities also present immense opportunities to tackle these challenges in an integrated manner through appropriate policies, planning, investments, and innovations.   
 
Convened jointly by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the World Bank through the Global Platform for Sustainable Cities in collaboration with other partners, this high-level WUF12 event explored the ways in which cities, with the appropriate level of planning and investment, are increasing urban biodiversity and are the key to accelerating the implementation of the GBF.  

Key objectives   

Given the increasingly critical role of cities in both achieving the objectives of the GBF and tackling the challenges posed by climate change, this high-level session aims to convene cities, the Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), global initiatives, and private sector entities to explore how to mainstream biodiversity considerations into urban planning, development, and investment practices.  
 
The session facilitated discussion on integrated urban planning, investing in urban biodiversity, and strengthened synergies and collaborations spanning across various stages, from planning to financing for effectively contributing to the GBF targets. By bringing key actors in the session, the session aims to forge partnerships and amplify the impact of collective efforts in addressing the pressing global challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change. 
 
The focus on urban biodiversity is not only timely but also holds importance for deepening global dialogues on driving transformative change at the intersection of urbanization, biodiversity conservation, and climate action. By bringing together high-level, multi-stakeholders across the world, this session has a global reach, and represents the shared commitment of cities, MDBs, international organizations, and the private sector to work together in advancing nature-positive urban development and contributing to the GBF targets. Such discussion not only aligns urban development efforts with international goals but also underscores the pivotal role of cities in catalysing local solutions to address global challenges. Furthermore, by fostering global partnerships and networks, the session focuses on laying the groundwork for sustained collaboration and ensures that its impact extends far beyond the WUF12.  
 

Welcome remarks

Angelica Nunez, Practice Manager, Senior Urban Specialist, World Bank 

Panel 1: Actions by cities on Urban Biodiversity 

Robert Sangori, Assistant Director of Urban Development, State Department for Housing and Urban Development, Kenya  

Sebastian Fermani, Secretary of Environment, Mendoza, Argentina 

Édouard Herve Moby Mpah, Mayor of Douala IV, Cameroon 

Alejandro Eder, Mayor of Cali, Colombia

Simon Stevens, Head of the Green Cities and Infrastructure Programme, UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office  

John-Rob Pool, Senior Manager for UrbanShift, WRI 

Xueman Wang, Program Manager: GPSC, World Bank (Moderator)

Panel 2: Supporting Planning and Financing Urban Biodiversity – from Partner Organizations  

Javier Torner, Lead, Inclusive Communities Urban Regeneration Programme, UN-Habitat  

Sharon Gil, City Lead, UNEP 

Maxine Mueller, Specialist for Donor Relations & Partnership Management, C40 Cities Finance Facility (CFF) 

Xueman Wang, Program Manager: GPSC, World Bank 

Aloke Barnwal, Thematic Lead- Urban and Infrastructure, GEF (Moderator)

Closing remarks

Mohamed Imam Bakarr, Manager – Integration and Knowledge Management Division, The GEF 
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