Search

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established its Financial Mechanism to facilitate the provision and transfer of resources from developed to developing countries. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) became the initial operating entity of the Financial Mechanism after the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, and the GEF Council agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1996.

The role of cities in addressing environmental challenges is both critical and transformative. By 2050, 75 percent of the global population is expected to live in urban areas, creating immense pressures on resources, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Amid these challenges, the UrbanShift initiative, funded by the Global Environment Facility, links and amplifies the efforts of complementary global programs using an integrated approach to create the sustainable, low-carbon, and nature-positive cities that we need.

The Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) is the backbone of the Paris Agreement. Defined in its Article 13, the ETF is designed to build mutual trust and promote effective implementation of the Paris Agreement, tracking the progress of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). The Global Environment Facility supports developing country Parties in building their institutional and technical capacities to meet the requirements of the ETF through several modalities.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established its Financial Mechanism to facilitate the provision and transfer of resources from developed to developing countries. The Global Environment Facility became the first operating entity of the Financial Mechanism after the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, and the GEF Council agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 1996.

The GEF provides financial resources to developing countries and countries with economies in transition for climate action, investing strategically to support enabling environments and policy reforms, while piloting new technologies and business models.This infosheet highlights results from over three decades of GEF support for climate mitigation solutions, details six climate strategy objectives for the eighth replenishment period (2022-2026), and identifies six Integrated Programs that will provide key climate contributions.

Since its inception in 1991, the Global Environment Facility has steadfastly supported African countries as they seek effective and innovative approaches to a nature-positive economy. The GEF has helped implement more than 1,800 projects in Africa, with a total investment of $6.2 billion. These investments have leveraged over $40 billion from other stakeholders, including governments, bilateral and multilateral partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

Climate finance must be increased to meet the global climate challenge so that developing countries can increase the ambition of their responses. This event highlighted a new joint declaration from the four multilateral climate funds - the Adaptation Fund, the Climate Investment Funds, the Global Environment Facility, and the Green Climate Fund - that emphasizes their commitment to develop an ambitious and concrete action plan to enhance access to climate finance and increase the collective impact of their actions.

The Global Environment Facility is the largest and most experienced multilateral fund dedicated to addressing climate change and threats to nature around the world. The two climate change adaptation funds it manages - the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) - are uniquely focused on helping vulnerable countries prepare for and cope with the impacts of a warming planet.

The GEF continually incorporates guidance from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties into its programs and operations, as described annually in its report to the COP. This booklet summarizes all guidance to the GEF dating from the first COP to COP27 and the corresponding GEF responses. This publication provides full documentation of the evolution of GEF activities and policies as informed by guidance from the COP.