The Global Environment Facility (GEF) concluded the 71st Meeting of its Council in Samarkand while simultaneously advancing major decisions through the governing bodies of the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).
The final day of deliberations highlighted a growing international focus on climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, support for least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), and innovative approaches to mobilizing environmental finance at a scale capable of responding to escalating global environmental challenges.
The discussions demonstrated how the international environmental finance architecture is increasingly shifting from isolated project-based interventions toward integrated, transformational approaches designed to strengthen resilience, protect biodiversity, and support vulnerable communities facing the front-line impacts of climate change.
GEF Council Concludes Work and Advances Marine Biodiversity Cooperation
The 71st GEF Council formally concluded its deliberations with the adoption of several institutional decisions, including progress toward establishing the GEF’s role within the financial architecture of the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement), commonly known as the High Seas Treaty.
Following extensive consultations, Council members agreed to proceed with the existing draft Memorandum of Understanding between the GEF and the BBNJ Agreement while inviting additional comments from members before finalizing the text.
Several delegates emphasized that the draft represented a carefully negotiated compromise reached through consensus during the Preparatory Commission process and should therefore be preserved as much as possible. The decision reinforces the GEF’s growing role in supporting the implementation of one of the most significant international ocean governance agreements adopted in recent decades.
The Council also approved the schedule for future meetings, deciding that the 72nd and 73rd Council sessions will be held in hybrid format in Washington, D.C., in January and June 2027 respectively. Australian representative Richard Bontjer was reappointed as Council Co-Chair until the 72nd meeting.
Another important institutional decision concerned the leadership of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Panel (STAP). Following the completion of Rosina Bierbaum’s term as Chair, the Council approved the appointment of Edward Carr as Interim Chair for a one-year period beginning in June 2026.
The appointment was welcomed by delegates who emphasized the increasingly important role of science in informing environmental decision-making at a time when both environmental crises and pressures on multilateral institutions are intensifying.
Adaptation Takes Center Stage
Following the conclusion of the GEF Council session, attention shifted to the 40th Meeting of the Council of the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund.
Opening the meeting, Claude Gascon described the gathering as taking place at a critical moment for climate adaptation financing and for the vulnerable communities that depend upon it.
He highlighted the substantial achievements delivered during the eighth replenishment cycle, noting that the Least Developed Countries Fund has now reached 44 LDCs with programming exceeding USD 750 million. Meanwhile, the Special Climate Change Fund has expanded its portfolio to 40 projects, including 25 projects supporting non-LDC Small Island Developing States.
Council members repeatedly stressed that climate adaptation is no longer an optional component of sustainable development but a necessity for communities already experiencing severe climate impacts, including droughts, floods, food insecurity, sea-level rise, and ecosystem degradation.
New Adaptation Strategy for 2026–2030
One of the most important outcomes of the day was the endorsement of the new Programming Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change for the LDCF and SCCF covering the period from July 2026 to June 2030.
The strategy identifies three major thematic priorities:
- Agriculture and food systems,
- Water security,
- Nature-based solutions and climate-resilient infrastructure.
The framework also introduces four transformational approaches intended to maximize adaptation impacts:
- Strengthening policy integration and national leadership,
- Expanding adaptive social protection systems,
- Enhancing partnerships with development banks and financial institutions,
- Mobilizing innovative finance and market-based solutions.
The strategy outlines two potential resource scenarios. Under the more ambitious scenario, the LDCF could mobilize up to USD 1.3 billion while the SCCF could reach USD 300 million over the implementation period.
Council members welcomed the strategy’s emphasis on locally led adaptation, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, cooperation with multilateral climate funds, and increased mobilization of private finance.
Several delegates argued that the proposed financing scenarios should be viewed as minimum targets rather than aspirational ceilings, emphasizing that adaptation needs continue to outpace available resources.
Climate Finance Reaches More Vulnerable Countries
The Council also approved a new Work Program allocating approximately USD 67.6 million through the LDCF and SCCF.
The programme includes seven projects under the LDCF and one project under the SCCF, focusing on some of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries and regions.
Delegates welcomed the fact that 44 out of 46 Least Developed Countries and 28 out of 30 Small Island Developing States will have benefited from support during the GEF-8 period.
Participants praised the programme’s strong attention to gender equality, fragile and conflict-affected settings, and integration with broader development objectives.
Several members nevertheless expressed concern that resource limitations prevented some technically approved projects from receiving financing during the current cycle, highlighting the persistent gap between adaptation needs and available funding.
Throughout the discussions, members stressed the importance of integrating nature-based solutions whenever possible, emphasizing that ecosystem restoration often provides more sustainable and cost-effective adaptation outcomes than traditional infrastructure alone.
Evaluation Highlights Strong Results but Sustainability Challenges
The Independent Evaluation Office presented its Annual Evaluation Report for the LDCF and SCCF, providing an overview of performance across the adaptation portfolio.
The report found that 83 percent of evaluated projects achieved satisfactory outcomes, indicating that adaptation investments are largely delivering intended results. However, evaluators warned that long-term sustainability remains a significant challenge.
The report recommended stronger attention to sustainability during project design, improved quality-at-entry reviews, and more effective monitoring and evaluation systems capable of supporting learning and adaptive management.
The Secretariat accepted all recommendations and noted that many of the proposed improvements have already been incorporated into the newly adopted adaptation strategy.
Biodiversity Finance Continues Rapid Expansion
The sixth meeting of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund Council highlighted the rapid growth of the newest major biodiversity financing mechanism established under the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Opening the session, Claude Gascon noted that since its launch in August 2023, the Fund has attracted an increasingly diverse group of contributors, including its first non-sovereign donor.
Asad Naqvi of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat emphasized that biodiversity finance decisions made today will significantly influence future economic stability and environmental resilience.
He reported that more than 90 percent of the Fund’s USD 387.2 million in contributions have already been programmed, demonstrating strong demand for biodiversity financing worldwide.
New Biodiversity Projects Approved
The GBFF Council approved a new Work Program consisting of two projects in India and Papua New Guinea, totaling approximately USD 20 million.
Both projects target areas characterized by exceptionally high biodiversity and significant levels of poverty, seeking to generate environmental, social, and economic benefits simultaneously.
A particularly notable feature of the projects is their strong focus on Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Approximately 39 percent of project resources are expected to support actions led by or directly benefiting Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Council members welcomed this achievement, noting that the Fund continues to meet or exceed its ambitious targets related to inclusion, gender responsiveness, and community participation.
Mobilizing New Sources of Biodiversity Finance
Perhaps the most forward-looking discussion concerned the adoption of a new Resource Mobilization Strategy for the period 2026–2030.
The strategy seeks to expand the Fund’s donor base beyond traditional sovereign contributors by engaging regional governments, philanthropic organizations, private foundations, and private-sector actors.
Council members reviewed scenarios envisioning total contributions ranging between USD 500 million and USD 750 million over the coming years.
Delegates generally welcomed efforts to diversify financing sources but stressed that private-sector engagement must complement, rather than replace, public funding commitments.
Several members emphasized the need for robust safeguards to ensure that all contributions remain aligned with biodiversity objectives and recipient country priorities.
The Secretariat assured members that all non-sovereign contributors would be subject to rigorous screening procedures and that any innovative financing instruments would require Council approval before implementation.
The final day of meetings in Samarkand underscored a broader transformation occurring across the international environmental finance system.
From adaptation funding for vulnerable countries to biodiversity conservation, marine governance, and innovative resource mobilization, the discussions revealed growing recognition that environmental challenges are becoming more interconnected, more urgent, and more costly.
At the same time, delegates repeatedly emphasized that solutions must become more integrated, more inclusive, and more ambitious.
As the GEF enters its ninth replenishment cycle and associated funds prepare to implement new strategies through 2030, the decisions taken in Samarkand will help shape how billions of dollars are invested to address climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and environmental degradation across the globe.
For vulnerable countries, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and future generations, the outcomes of these meetings may prove critical in determining whether international environmental commitments can be translated into meaningful action on the ground.
