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The 64th Global Environment Facility (GEF) council meeting held in Brazil

Key Points

• During the 64th Global Environment Facility (GEF) council meeting in Brazil, $1.4 billion was approved for disbursement to address climate, biodiversity, and pollution issues.
• Of the total 4 billion, $653 million has been allocated specifically for their biodiversity, aiming to support countries in updating and meeting National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans the targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by 2030.
• Latin America and the Caribbean region receive the most funding, followed by Africa.
• The United Nations Development Programme, UN Environment Programme, and Food and Agriculture Organization are the top recipients among the 18 implementing agencies for GEF.
• A new trust fund called the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund will be established to support the implementation of the . Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework.

GEF

• It is a — including United UNIQUE PARTNERSHIP of 18 agencies Nations agencies, multilateral development banks, national entities and international NGOs — working with 183 countries to address the world’s most challenging environmental issue
• It was of established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit UNFCC to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems.
• It is a collection of funds dedicated to addressing issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and the degradation of land and ocean health.
• GEF funds are available to developing countries seeking to meet the objectives of international environmental agreements.
•  It is also an that supports multi-INNOVATOR AND CATALYST stakeholder alliances to preserve threatened ecosystems on land and in the oceans, build greener cities, boost food security and promote clean energy for a more prosperous, climate-resilient world.

It is a FINANCIAL MECHANISM for five major international environmental conventions:

• The Minamata Convention on Mercury.
• The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs).
• The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
• The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Structure

• The GEF’s governing structure is organized around an Assembly, Council, Secretariat, 18 implementing agencies, a Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel, and the Independent Evaluation Office.
• GEF Council with 32 members appointed by constituencies of . member countries is main governing body

GEF and India:

• India is a founder member of GEF. It is both a donor and recipient of GEF funds.
• India represents the GEF South Asia Constituency (including, represents the GEF South Asia Constituency Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka) in the GEF Council.
• Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) is GEF Political Focal Point responsible for issues related to GEF governance, including policies and decisions, as well as relations between member countries and the GEF Council and Assembly.