U.S. Local Leaders Bring Local Solutions to Global Biodiversity Conference in Armenia

The Alliance for Local Leaders International (ALLIES), the California Global Biodiversity Alliance (CalGBA), and ICLEI USA convene U.S. local government delegation at COP17 to elevate the role of cities and communities in protecting nature and building resilient communities

YEREVAN, Armenia, Oct. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As governments from around the world gather in Yerevan for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), U.S. mayors and local leaders are bringing a message from their communities: global biodiversity goals will only succeed if they are translated into action on the ground.

Led by CalGBA and ICLEI USA in partnership with ALLIES, the U.S. local government delegation is participating in COP17 this month, connecting American cities and counties with international counterparts and exchanging practical approaches to biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable development.

The delegation's participation comes at a critical moment for global biodiversity efforts. While national governments negotiate global commitments, local governments are already putting those commitments into practice — protecting green space, restoring ecosystems, and expanding access to nature in ways that help cities withstand extreme heat and flooding, reduce pollution, improve public health, and build more resilient communities and local economies.

"Biodiversity may be a global challenge, but the solutions are profoundly local," said former Ambassador Nina Hachigian, Founder and CEO of ALLIES. "Mayors and local leaders are the ones turning ambitious global goals into something people can see and experience in their own communities — from protecting parks and waterways to building more resilient neighborhoods. COP17 is an opportunity to make sure the voices and experiences of local leaders are part of the global conversation."

"Cities and counties have been doing this work for years, and they have a critical role to play in the global biodiversity conversation," said Kale Roberts, Director of Membership & Local Diplomacy at ICLEI USA. "International agreements matter, but implementation happens in communities. Our role is to help local governments bring their experience to these global spaces, learn from what other communities are doing, and bring those lessons home."

"Collaboration drives change and City of Los Angeles leaders are attending COP17 with CalGBA to show how the power of coming together at the local level enables nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises, including through the Mayor's new Climate Action Plan biodiversity target," said Nurit Katz, Vice President of the Board of Water and Power Commissioners for Los Angeles.

Throughout COP17, ALLIES, CalGBA, and ICLEI USA will support opportunities for U.S. local leaders to engage with international counterparts, participate in global discussions, and highlight examples of local implementation. The organizations will also elevate the importance of local government participation in advancing the Global Biodiversity Framework's targets for inclusive decision-making and the participation of women, Indigenous peoples, and other communities.

"Local leaders don't need to wait for global agreements to act," Hachigian said. "They are already protecting the places their residents call home. The opportunity at COP17 is to connect those efforts — so that cities can learn from one another, strengthen what works and help turn global ambition into local results."

The U.S. delegation's participation is part of ALLIES, CalGBA's, and ICLEI USA's broader commitment to strengthening city-to-city connections and ensuring that local governments have a meaningful voice in international conversations affecting their communities. The "super delegation" from the U.S. illustrates the ongoing commitment from communities across the nation to halting and reversing biodiversity loss despite the federal government being the only UN member-state yet to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Below is a full list of the local leaders in attendance:

• Antonio Mendoza – Pit River Tribe
• Ash Kalra – State of California Legislature Assembly
• Brandy McDaniels – Pit River Tribe
• Erik Bottcher – State of New York Legislature
• Gregg Hart — State of California Legislature Assembly
• Leslie Boghosian Murphy – Manhattan Community Board 4
• Lycia Ortega – Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe
• Nina Hachigian — Alliance for Local Leaders International
• Nurit Katz — Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
• Radley Davis  – Pit River Tribe
• Tim Keller — City of Albuquerque
• Wade Crowfoot — California Natural Resources Agency

Other attendees include regional nonprofit leaders, academics, and local government non-elected staff members.

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About ALLIES

The Alliance for Local Leaders International (ALLIES) connects local leaders in the United States with their counterparts around the world to share strategies, resources and solutions to the challenges facing communities — from democratic backsliding and climate change to resilience and sustainable development. Founded and led by former U.S. Ambassador Nina Hachigian, ALLIES works to strengthen local leadership and build more resilient communities through international connection and collaboration.

About ICLEI USA

ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability USA supports U.S. cities, counties and Tribal nations with the technical assistance, tools and global connections they need to advance climate and sustainability action. ICLEI USA serves as the official channel for U.S. local governments to engage in global environmental negotiations and works to connect local leaders with international peers.

About CalGBA

The California Global Biodiversity Alliance (CalGBA) promotes collaboration amongst local, state, national, Tribal and global biodiversity leaders in California, the United States, and worldwide in order to overcome critical biodiversity and climate change challenges for people and planet. CalGBA's network of state and local level government officials, NGOs, academics and community and environmental justice groups advocate for strong participation in and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

SOURCE Alliance for Local Leaders International