Our deep connection to nature and its critical impact on our physical and mental health has been heightened during the COVID lockdown when we were deprived of the ability to enjoy the outdoors.
World Environment Day has been celebrated on 5 June since 1974 and this year had the theme Time for Nature.
The pandemic is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of boosting nature in our cities, not only for our health, but as a weapon to mitigate the effects of Climate Change.
Many councils are now finding nature-based solutions can play a major role in reducing emissions and restoring liveability in our cities. They are cost-effective and provide environmental, social and economic benefits simultaneously.
The new CitiesWithNature (CWN) initiative is an opportunity for Australian local governments to join a global movement to restore nature in our urban areas.
It is supported by the Nature Conservancy and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is available to any council regardless of size or geographic context.
CWN is delivered in Australia by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and endorsed by the United Nations Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as the official mechanism for local governments to engage in global processes on nature.
ICLEI is now offering an invitation to Australian councils to become a CWN Pioneer City.
In parallel with CitiesWithNature, ICLEI also supports the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM) to help councils spearhead both their nature and climate change commitments.
The GCoM is a coalition of 10,000+ municipalities sharing and reporting climate action, using the one agreed standard, reporting both locally and collectively to the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP).
With over two decades of experience, ICLEI Oceania invites councils to think global – act local and learn more about making a positive contribution either as a member or by participating in the free programs they support and deliver.
Contact ICLEI Oceania (oceania@iclei.org) to join the CitiesWithNature or Global Covenant or request a free targeted information session to learn more.
*Copy supplied by ICLEI Oceania
