The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has announced USD 52.8 million for four new UN Environment Programme (UNEP)–led projects during its 70th Council meeting. The funding will support practical solutions to some of today’s most urgent environmental challenges, including restoring critical ecosystems, expanding clean mobility and strengthening global climate transparency. 

This announcement comes a week after the seventh session of the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA-7) that brought together over 6,000 delegates from over 180 United Nations Member States.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen welcomed the announcement, saying: “These new investments demonstrate what multilateral environmental cooperation can deliver when we combine ambition with action. Coming just one week after UNEA-7, where Member States rallied around advancing sustainable solutions for a resilient planet, this support from the GEF helps translate that global resolve into concrete results. From wetlands and oceans to clean transport and climate transparency, these projects will support countries protect their natural capital, reduce emissions and pollution, and strengthen resilience for communities on the frontlines of environmental change.”

GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez emphasised the importance of continued ambition, stating: “The GEF and UNEP have a long track record of helping countries reverse environmental decline and build resilience. These new projects are exactly the kind of integrated, high-impact initiatives we need—linking climate, nature and pollution and ensuring benefits for people and ecosystems alike. We look forward to deepening this collaboration and scaling solutions that deliver real change on the ground.”

The new GEF-funded initiatives include:

• Establishing Sustainable Wetland Management Cornerstones in Madagascar – USD 7.2 million

  This project will safeguard and restore Madagascar’s fragile wetlands to protect biodiversity, build climate resilience and support sustainable livelihoods. It will enhance sustainable management across over 655,000 hectares of wetlands and marine ecosystems, restore 24,000 hectares of mangroves, benefit 60,000 people and mitigate more than an estimated 41 million greenhouse gas emissions. The initiative provides robust climate action, protects nature at scale and helps curb ecosystem pollution and degradation.

• Upscaling Integrated Electric Mobility Systems – Addendum 2 – USD 2 million

  This investment will help Madagascar accelerate its transition to zero-emission electric mobility. By strengthening policies, institutions and technical capacities, the programme drives climate action through transport decarbonisation, reduces vehicle-related pollution and promotes sustainable mobility systems that lessen pressure on natural ecosystems.

• Enhancing Policy Coherence for a Sustainable Blue Economy in Indonesia – USD 9 million

  This initiative will harmonise governance across Indonesia’s marine and coastal sectors to support a sustainable blue economy. It will strengthen sustainable management of 1.42 million hectares of marine habitat, restore 50,000 hectares of mangroves and seagrass and mitigate a potential 2.19 million greenhouse gas emissions over 20 years. With 200,000 direct beneficiaries, the project combines nature action, blue-carbon-driven climate action and reduced land–sea pollution through coherent planning.

• Preparation of Biennial Transparency Reports (BTRs) and Combined NC/BTRs to the UNFCCC – USD 34.6 million

  This global initiative will enhance climate transparency in 25 countries, supporting the preparation and submission of 50 national climate reports under the Paris Agreement. By strengthening institutional capacity and long-term climate governance, the project boosts national climate action, improves reporting related to nature and pollution and supports sustained engagement in global transparency processes.

These new investments build on three decades of collaboration between UNEP and the GEF, a partnership that has delivered transformative environmental impact across more than 160 countries.

Together, the two institutions have implemented over 1,000 projects, supported by more than USD 3.3 billion in donor contributions, improving the lives of nearly 33 million people. In the last eight years alone, the UNEP–GEF partnership has helped countries prevent 77 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, restore more than 6.5 million hectares of land, rehabilitated 1.1 million hectares of marine ecosystems and strengthen chemicals and waste management policies in 70 countries. 

As we look ahead, the upcoming GEF-9 replenishment in 2026 represents a pivotal opportunity to scale what works. With proven models linking climate, nature and pollution action, UNEP stands ready to deploy new resources into transformative global programmes that can accelerate progress toward a healthier, more resilient planet for all.

About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 

UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

About the Global Environment Facility 

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) includes several multilateral funds working together to address the planet’s most pressing challenges in an integrated way. Its financing helps developing countries address complex challenges and work towards meeting international environmental goals. Over the past three decades, the GEF has provided more than US$26 billion in financing, primarily as grants, and mobilised another US$153 billion for country-driven priority projects.