The City of São Paulo adhered to the Edinburgh Declaration, uniquely poises local and regional governments worldwide and contributes to the negotiation of the New Global Mark for Biodiversity Post-2020. The document was signed by the Secretary of International Affairs, Marta Suplicy, on July 15th, and was recently approved by the Scottish Government. With this signature, São Paulo commits to continue with real actions of protection of biodiversity in the municipality and in the international stage.

An initiative by the Scottish Government and other diverse international organisations, the Declaration seeks to express the goals, demands and common commitments of local governments aimed at the implementation of the agenda for biodiversity. Therefore, it claims attention to the importance of the participation of governments during the coming COP15 on Biological Diversity, in order to facilitate and recognize its key roles.

According to Mayor Ricardo Nunes, “the City of São Paulo has a great tradition of preservation of its flora and fauna. It's a part of our public policy, of our commitment to the environment: a city that has environmental conservation at its core, and so, now we are joining the Edinburgh Declaration”.

The document’s signatories commit themselves to the vision of living in harmony with nature, in a way to recognise that the implementation of such principals must be followed by support mechanisms and favourable conditions, like a transversal and vertically integrated governance. The Edinburgh Declaration could facilitate the conquest of new environmentally stipulated goals, in order to offer necessary resources in a local scenario.

“We understand that the participative movement allowed in the scope of the Edinburgh Declaration will leverage other processes, such as the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals of UN’s 2030 Agenda”, said the Secretary of International Affairs of São Paulo, Marta Suplicy.

The city of São Paulo is already engaged in sustainability - in July, City Hall launched the 2030 Municipal Agenda. This document commits the Public Administration to implement the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals in the capital of São Paulo, adapted to the local reality, to conquer a greener and more equal future.

To know more, access ICLEI’s article.

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