News Stories

While their small size, relative isolation and unique biodiversity place many SIDS amongst the world’s most sought-after tourist destinations – with the sector representing more than 30 per cent of SIDS' total exports – they are also especially vulnerable to environmental threats. Photo: Michal Durinik/Shutterstock.

June 13, 2019

Taking the fight to the frontline: Island states unite to end pollution
In all, the landmark work program represents new priorities for the GEF to address the need for systems change as the challenges of safeguarding the global commons - the shared resources that ensure a habitable planet upon which we can all thrive - get ever greater. Photo: mbrand85/Shutterstock.

June 12, 2019

GEF Council approves largest-ever single batch of projects and programs
Opening the 56th GEF Council, GEF CEO and Chairperson Naoko Ishii said: “Science provides us with the crystal-clear message that the natural world is under attack. We humans have pushed the carrying capacity of the planet to its limits. Unless we urgently change the way we live, we will lose the favourable Earth conditions that are the very foundations of our own prosperity.” Photo: <a href="http://enb.iisd.org/gef/council56/10jun.html">IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon</a>.

June 11, 2019

As environmental threats grow, there is no room for complacency
The GEF Small Grants Programme launched its new publication titled “Plastics Management and Circular Economy: Community Solutions.” The publication captures the experiences and lessons learnt from community-based plastics management and promotes the circular economy system at a local and community level. Photo: <a href="http://enb.iisd.org/gef/council56/10jun.html">IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon</a>.

June 11, 2019

Reduce, reuse and recycle: a circular economy approach to plastics
A circular economy would both maximise the benefits of plastics and minimise their ill effects, through such measures as producing them from plants rather than fossil fuels; redesigning products to cut waste and make them last; encouraging recycling and reuse; and using plastic wastes as a resource. Such measures also need to be accompanied by reducing demand for plastic products and discouraging non-essential ones. Photo: alterfalter/Shutterstock.

June 10, 2019

The circular economy: tackling plastic pollution
Key to the $865.9 million work program, which if approved will be the largest single batch of projects and program ever in the history of the GEF, are four “Impact Programs”. These set out to bring countries together in an integrated approach directed at tackling the drivers of environmental destruction, and not just its symptoms. Photo: Tetyana Dotsenko/Shutterstock.

June 10, 2019

Countries gather for landmark GEF council meeting
Speaking at the opening of the Ecosperity 2019 conference in Singapore today, Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) acknowledged “the extremely worrying picture” coming from science about the state of the planet, and highlighted a new Global Commons Alliance that is being set-up to help tackle the problem. Photo: Vadim Sadovski/Shutterstock.

June 6, 2019

Global Commons Alliance to help tackle threats to health of the planet
Capacity-building Initiative for Transparency participant countries and donors came away from the Rome gathering reinvigorated and recommitted to making transparency a priority in the Paris process. In particular, participants gained a sense of urgency considering the rapidly approaching deadline for the new transparency reports under the Paris Agreement and its linkages to more ambitious National Determined Contributions.

May 30, 2019

Countries meet to discuss efforts to increase transparency around climate change commitments
The Good Growth Conference brings together more than 300 national and international experts, government leaders, executives, civil society practitioners and indigenous leaders to share and promote solutions for the sustainable production of agricultural commodities, which are responsible for an estimated 70% of tropical deforestation worldwide. Photo: Maria Paz Gonzales/PNUD Peru.

May 17, 2019

President of Peru joins call for sustainable production of agricultural commodities
In GEF-7 over $US1 billion has been allocated to biodiversity protection. But, it’s increasingly evident that most damage takes place outside protected areas. Photo: Elena Prosvirova

May 6, 2019

GEF CEO Statement on the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
GEF implementation support for the chemicals and waste conventions allows countries to meet their obligations under the conventions and to transform their management of chemicals, using and producing chemicals without suffering their harmful impacts. Photo: GEF/Flickr.

April 26, 2019

Triple COPs on sound management of chemicals and waste convene for a clean planet and healthy people
The projects presented during the National Dialogue, one of a series that the GEF is holding with countries around the world, aimed to address a vast variety of issues. From restoring forested ecosystems, creating ecological villages in the highlands of Madagascar, to conserving protected areas and species threatened by poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Photo: Christian Hofer/GEF.

April 4, 2019

Inclusive consultations move Madagascar forward on transformation of land and livelihoods
An ambitious new conservation programme brings six nations together to ensure the future of one of the world’s most vital ecosystems. Photo: <a href="https://flic.kr/p/nMBY4k" target="_blank">Joseph King</a> (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

March 21, 2019

Six countries, one forest, one future
The work of the GEF International Waters (IW) focal area is focused on cooperation on water. With about 60% of the world’s surface water resources and 40% of the world’s population living in watersheds shared by two or more countries, cooperation on the use of shared resources is essential. Photo: lovelyday12/Shutterstock.

March 21, 2019

World Water Day 2019: Celebrating results on shared water resource cooperation

As a key global player in forest conservation, the GEF has been at the forefront of efforts to protect the most important forests in the world from degradation. Photo: Gustavo Fradao/Shutterstock.

March 21, 2019

International Day of Forests 2019: Conserving the major forests on the planet