Catalyzing Urban Biodiversity as Climate Action
The Urban Biodiversity Accelerator is a joint offering of Center for Regenerative Solutions, ICLEI Europe, the Alexander von Humboldt Institute, and the City of Boulder, Colorado’s Climate Initiatives Program.
This globally networked, community-based capacity building sequence will bring a cohort of municipal and community allies through 3 modules designed to rapidly grow community capacity to implement biodiversity programs that institutionalize the integral role played by nature and the larger living world in urban climate resilience.
A Collaborative Platform for Transforming
Global Commitments into Local Action
The International Urban Biodiversity Accelerator utilizes a proven systems-change model specifically designed for local government decision-makers, practitioners, technicians, and policy planners to harness innovative, equity-centered approaches that meet biodiversity and ecosystem restoration commitments.
The 4-month capacity-building intensive creates a vibrant, engaged and connected learning cohort that strengthens urban environments to become more resilient to a wide range of climate change impacts, including wildfire, flooding, drought, infectious disease and other extreme events.
As cities worldwide seek to implement the ambitious biodiversity protection and enhancement goals set in global venues and frameworks, the Urban Biodiversity Accelerator offers a pragmatic and action-oriented learning platform for rapid development and dissemination of effective solutions.
At COP16 in Cali, Colombia, Center for Regenerative Solutions and its partners emphasized the critical and urgent role cities play in biodiversity regeneration and announced the International Urban Biodiversity Accelerator to catalyze local urban actions across three regions—North America, Latin America, and Europe.
International Urban Biodiversity Accelerator 2025 Logistics
The first cohort of Core Participants will be comprised of 30 communities—10 each from North America, Latin America, and Europe—selected through an open application process.
Each multidisciplinary team must include at least one City and one local community-based organization partner; and will participate in approximately 10 live 60-90 minute virtual Module Sessions facilitated weekly over four months.
Sessions will be a combination of expert instruction, and peer-to-peer learning and networking across a variety of regions that are already actively developing biodiversity initiatives.
One-on-one coaching support will be provided to communities to support leading-edge approaches, apply techniques, and build biodiversity action plans that aim for global goals while providing tangible local community benefits.
Foundational Module Themes
Urban Biodiversity & Climate Risks
Connecting biodiversity strategies with challenges like urban heat, flooding, infectious disease, and wildfires
Policy & Financial Strategies
Customizing sustainable finance models for long-term impact
Community Engagement
Emphasis on equity-centered solutions with active community involvement
[Tentative] Accelerator Timeline
⇨ Full Applications Open: June 2025
⇨ Application Info Session / Q&A: July 2025
⇨ Full Application Closes: July 2025
⇨ Selected Communities Announced: August 2025
⇨ Orientation for CBO partners: September 2025
⇨ Module 1: September 2025
⇨ Module 2: October 2025
⇨ Module 3: November 2025
⇨ Program Synthesis Session: December 2025
Thank you to our funders and sponsors for their generous support of the Urban Biodiversity Accelerator
Please visit the resources below to learn more about the Urban Nature-Based Climate Solutions Accelerator and the 2025 Urban Biodiversity sequence:
Interested in partnering on the Urban Biodiversity Accelerator?
Please contact us using this form.
