The Global Environment Facility (GEF), a multilateral fund that finances environmental projects around the world, has approved an initial $3.9bn (€3.4bn) package to support climate adaptation, biodiversity protection and water security over the next four years.
The decision was taken at the GEF Assembly in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where representatives from 186 countries met to agree the priorities of the fund's ninth replenishment cycle, covering the period from 2026 to 2030.
The funding comes at a time when governments across the world are facing growing pressure to address droughts, floods, biodiversity loss and other environmental challenges linked to climate change.
The fund behind global environmental agreements
Established in 1991, the Global Environment Facility channels funding from donor governments into environmental projects around the world and serves as a financial mechanism for several international agreements, including the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
