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The world’s cities are growing faster than ever before, and urbanization has proven to be a fundamental driver of economic growth and societal progress. However, this unprecedented growth has a significant impact on the well-being and health of people and the planet. Cities are significantly contributing to rising emissions and loss of nature while also being vulnerable to their impacts. At the same time, people, nature, and the built environment are closely connected in cities, enabling decision makers to develop integrated solutions which can deliver multiple and synergistic benefits.

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.

As 2025 gets underway, efforts by cities to reduce congestion, address air pollution, improve housing access, and lower flooding risks are getting more attention than ever. These initiatives matter to more than 4 billion people who live in urban centers worldwide, and also have enormous consequences for the planet and global environmental goals. 

Global Environment Facility member countries approved $736.4 million in funding, including new support for the Great Green Wall, a landmark initiative focused on increasing climate resilience and improving land health across Africa’s Sahel region.The diverse package of financing includes the new Global Biodiversity Framework Fund’s first three approved projects, less than a year after the fund’s launch, and the most support ever provided by the Least Developed Countries Fund for climate change adaptation. Other highlights include the new Sus

Los países miembros del Fondo para el Medio Ambiente Mundial, o GEF, por sus siglas en inglés, aprobaron un financiamiento de USD 736,4 millones.  Estos recursos incluyen un nuevo apoyo para la Gran Muralla Verde, una iniciativa histórica centrada en aumentar la resiliencia climática y mejorar la salud de la tierra en toda la región del Sahel en África.El paquete de financiamiento incluye los tres primeros proyectos aprobados del nuevo Fondo del Marco Mundial de la Diversidad Biológica (GBFF), a menos de un año de su puesta en marcha, y el mayor apoyo dado po

Os países membros do Fundo Global para o Meio Ambiente aprovaram US$736,4 milhões em financiamento, incluindo novo apoio à Grande Muralha Verde, uma iniciativa histórica focada no aumento da resiliência climática e na melhoria da saúde da terra em toda a região africana do Sahel. O pacote diversificado de financiamento inclui os três primeiros projetos aprovados no âmbito do novo Fundo para o Marco Global de Biodiversidade, menos de um ano após o seu lançamento, e o maior apoio já oferecido pelo Fundo para os Países Menos Desenvolvidos voltado para a adaptaçã

Les pays membres du Fonds pour l'environnement mondial (GEF en anglais) ont approuvé une enveloppe de 736,4 millions de dollars englobant notamment un nouveau soutien à la Grande Muraille verte, initiative d'envergure visant à accroître la résilience climatique et à améliorer la santé des terres dans la région africaine du Sahel.Les différents volets de ce financement comprennent les trois premiers projets approuvés au titre du nouveau Fonds pour le Cadre mondial de la biodiversité, moins d'un an après son lancement, ainsi que le soutien le plus important jam