The 71st Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, has concluded with decisions to significantly expand international environmental finance through 2030.

The Council, alongside meetings of the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), approved $232.5 million in new financing across 24 projects in 22 countries.

This includes $144.3 million from the GEF Trust Fund expected to mobilise more than $828 million in co-financing, $67.7 million in climate adaptation support for vulnerable nations, and $20.5 million for biodiversity protection, with nearly 40 peer cent of GBFF funding directed to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

GEF representatives from 186 countries also endorsed the programming direction for the $3.9 billion GEF-9 replenishment covering 2026–2030.

“This is a powerful demonstration of commitment to meeting international environmental goals through multilateral cooperation,” said Interim CEO Claude Gascon, adding: “The GEF’s blended finance operations are generating more than $18 in co-finance for each dollar we invest.”

The GEF Trust Fund work programme spans biodiversity, land degradation, international waters, climate change and blended finance, supporting projects across 19 countries.

The Council also noted $200 million in smaller projects approved earlier in the year.

Progress under GEF-8 was highlighted, including protection of 1.9 billion hectares of oceans, 2.3 billion tonnes of emissions reductions, restoration of 10.1 million hectares of ecosystems, and improved cooperation across 59 shared water systems.

Looking ahead, GEF-9 introduces reforms aimed at faster delivery, greater private finance mobilisation and stronger inclusion of vulnerable groups.

It allocates 35 per cent of resources to Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, and establishes a $100 million Indigenous Peoples and local communities conservation initiative.

Additional funding approvals from the LDCF/SCCF and GBFF will support climate adaptation, disaster resilience and biodiversity protection, while a new partnership with the Rob Walton Foundation aims to mobilise up to $50 million for Africa’s key protected areas.

GEF officials warned that accelerating cooperation is critical as global environmental pressures intensify. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service