Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Source: Down to Earth

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Context

• Global Environment Facility (GEF) Meeting: Allocation of $736.4 million for projects focused on biodiversity, climate change, pollution control, and land and ocean health.
• Funding and Initiatives: Detailed breakdown of funds to be considered for various environmental projects and initiatives across multiple countries and regions.

Details

Key Points

• Multilateral Environmental Conventions:
  • Role of GEF in supporting six major conventions, including the Stockholm and Minamata
• Global Environmental Projects:
  • Importance of international collaboration in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
• Funding Mechanisms:
  • Understanding the allocation of funds and the strategic impact of GEF-supported projects.
• Environmental Governance:
  • The operational policies and programs adopted by the GEF Council.
• Biodiversity Targets:
  • The contribution of GEF projects to global biodiversity targets, particularly under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

About Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Established:

• Created in 1991 to address global environmental issues.

Funding Cycle:

• Currently in the GEF-8 funding cycle (July 2022 - June 2026).

Multilateral Conventions:

• Supports six environmental conventions, including the Stockholm Convention and the Minamata Convention.

Projects:

• Focuses on biodiversity, climate change, pollution control and sustainable land and ocean health.

Donor Support:

• In 2022, 29 donor governments pledged $5.33 billion to support GEF’s initiatives.

About Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF)

Inaugural Work Program:

• Launched in August 2023 to support biodiversity conservation.

Funding Countries:

• Supported by Canada, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, Spain and the UK.

Initial Projects:

• Funding conservation projects in Brazil and Mexico, focusing on protected areas and indigenous-led conservation.

About Great Green Wall Project

Objective:

• Aims to restore degraded lands across the Sahel region of Africa.

GEF Support:

• Part of GEF-funded projects for land restoration.

Impact:

• Focuses on combating desertification and improving biodiversity in the Sahel region.

About Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants

Adopted:

• Came into force in 2004.

Objective:

• Aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs).

GEF Role:

• Supports projects to reduce POPs in the air and manage e-waste.

About Minamata Convention on Mercury

Adopted:

• Came into force in 2017.

Objective:

• Aims to protect human health and the environment from mercury emissions and releases.

GEF Role:

• Supports projects to reduce mercury emissions and promote safer alternatives.

About Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Adopted:

• December 2022 under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Objective:

• Sets global biodiversity targets for the next decade.

GEF contribution:

• Funds projects to achieve biodiversity targets outlined in the framework.

Sources:

Down to Earth

PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Which of the following conventions aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)? a) Ramsar Convention b) Minamata Convention c) Stockholm Convention d) Basel Convention Answer: c)