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By Annonciata Byukusenge
Close to $3.9 billion in funding is set to be channeled into the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to support a new four-year program aimed at helping developing countries accelerate their environmental commitments by 2030.
The contributions, coming from donor nations across the globe, will be used to help developing countries confront some of the most pressing environmental crises of our time, including biodiversity loss, the growing impacts of climate change, and the push for sustainable development that benefits both communities and ecosystems alike.
The new program, known as GEF-9, is scheduled to run from July 2026 through June 2030.
Additional pledges are expected to be announced at the GEF Council meeting at the end of May, before the full budget is formally approved.
GEF Acting CEO Claude Gascon said the funding sends a clear signal that the world has not lost its resolve on environmental protection, despite competing global pressures.
“This contribution delivers a powerful message that the world has not given up on protecting nature. The countries that have pledged their support have shown a genuine commitment to a better future for our planet.”
The GEF serves as the financial backbone for several major international agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, among others, addressing climate change, environmental degradation, and related global threats.
Germany was among the nations to publicly affirm its support. Niels Annen, speaking on behalf of the German government, emphasized that international cooperation has never been more essential.
“We must collaborate to safeguard our planet for future generations. Sustainable development and environmental stewardship must coexist.”
The pledge comes at a critical moment, as mounting scientific reports warn that biodiversity and ecosystems are deteriorating at an alarming rate, pushing the planet closer to thresholds that could trigger severe and irreversible consequences.
Over the next four years, GEF will concentrate its efforts on four strategic priorities: integrating environmental considerations across sectors such as agriculture, energy, health, and urban development to reduce harmful practices; mobilizing private sector investment to complement public funding; fostering inclusive partnerships that bring together governments, civil society, youth, and women; and directing greater resources toward the least developed countries, small island states, and indigenous communities.
Richard Bontjer, a member of the GEF Council, expressed confidence in the fund’s ability to deliver meaningful results. “At a time when every dollar must count, GEF demonstrates that it deserves investment because it delivers concrete outcomes,” he said.
The 71st GEF Council meeting will be held in Samarkand from May 31 to June 3, 2026, ahead of the Eighth GEF Assembly, where countries will publicly announce the final size of their pledged contributions.
The program is expected to play a pivotal role in helping the world meet its environmental targets by 2030, built on a foundation of genuine North-South cooperation.
