World Environment Body Gets a US$ 3.13 Billion Boost;
New Funds will Combat Environmental Degradation

View news release as PDF (23kb)

Cape Town, South Africa, August 28, 2006 – The world’s largest environmental funding body—Global Environment Facility (GEF)—received its biggest ever financial boost today with 32 governments agreeing to contribute US$ 3.13 billion to finance environmental projects over the next four years.

The agreement was endorsed by the 32-member GEF Council in Cape Town where the Third GEF Assembly will commence tomorrow.

The funding comes at a crucial time.  Many fear that environmental and ecological red flags – loss of species and habitats, threats from changing climate, land degradation and desertification, pollution of shared waters, and health hazards posed by persistent organic pollutants – are increasing, and showing worrying signs of stress and severity.

“This strong show of support from the international donor community is remarkable, and signals firm commitment to protecting the global environment,” said Monique Barbut, GEF CEO and Chairperson.  “We cannot be complacent, and time is not on our side. The global environment is facing unprecedented threats, and these funds have to be translated rapidly into projects, programs and policies that make a difference in developing countries.”

The GEF was established 15 years ago, coming out of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, to fund global environment protection projects.  This replenishment, the largest in the history of the GEF, will be used to fund critical environmental programs in developing countries, including small projects by NGOs and community-based organizations.

Over a year ago, the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment warned that human activities are “putting such strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.”  Similarly, the United Nations has warned that environmental degradation will hamper ongoing efforts by developing nations to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

“The GEF is a unique facility.  It allows the international community to come together and coordinate real solutions for the world’s major environmental concerns.  At a time when global ecological challenges need strong multilateral action, this new funding for the GEF will go a long way to provide cohesive and sustainable programs” said Philippe Le Houerou, World Bank Vice President for Concessional Finance and Global Partnerships. “As its trustee, the World Bank looks forward to working with all GEF partners to implement the replenishment.”

The 32 donors to this replenishment are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States. 

Many donors will increase their contribution levels to help achieve a GEF-4 replenishment larger than that of the GEF-3, demonstrating an extraordinary showing of financial support to the GEF.  The countries that agreed to provide voluntary supplemental contributions are:  Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

The GEF Trust Fund is replenished once every four years.

Media Contacts:

Cape Town: Sarwat Hussain, Tel: +27(082)858-9605,  E-mail: shussain@thegef.org

Cape Town: Nick Nuttall, Tel: +27(082)3701 235

Washington, DC: Cynthia Carol Case MacMahon, Tel: 1(202)473-6287, E-mail: ccase@worldbank.org

New York: Ms. Niamh Collier-Smith, Tel:+1 (212) 906 6111, E-mail:
niamh.collier@undp.org

About the GEF

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is an international financial mechanism with 176 member countries that addresses global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. GEF grants support projects in developing countries related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer and persistent organic pollutants. GEF’s implementing agencies—the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Bank—share credit for GEF’s measurable on-the-ground achievements.  Since its inception in 1992, GEF has achieved a strong track record of support to developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $6.2 billion in grants and leveraging $20 billion in co-financing for over 1,800 projects in 140 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), GEF has also made more than 7,000 small grants, up to $50,000 each, directly to nongovernmental organizations and community organizations.