Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Excellencies, and distinguished delegates,
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the largest public multi-lateral supporter of projects to improve the global environment. The GEF has supported more than 2,400 projects in more than 165 developing countries in 6 focal areas including climate change, POPs, biodiversity, international water, land degradation, and ozone depleting substances. These investments benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.
The GEF serves as financial mechanisms for UNFCCC, CBD, Stockholm Convention, and other MEAs. GEF is assisting countries with economies in transition (CEITs) to implement activities to phase out Ozone
Depleting Substances in accordance with their obligations under the
Montreal Protocol.
Mr. Chairman,
The GEF operates in 4-year cycle and replenishes every 4 years. During the past 12 months, the donors have negotiated to reach an agreement on the level of the 5th replenishment of the GEF. Their decision is very important because it will determine our investments in the next 4 years. It is also crucial because it is an opportunity for the international community to demonstrate its real commitment to address sustainable development.
I proudly announce that donors agreed to a historic replenishment for GEF-5 yesterday. They have pledged 52% increase compared to
GEF-4. The overall replenishment is estimated to be $4.25 billion. The $ 4.25 billion pledged for the next 4 years is the largest ever increase in funding for the GEF since its establishment.
The GEF has been making significant reforms and improvements in its operation in the past few years. The GEF will continue to implement a package of policy and operational reforms including giving recipient countries greater ownership in investment opportunities during the GEF 5 period.
Mr. Chairman,
The GEF has six priority focal area but today I will address two topics, transport and chemicals, in particular, POPs.
Transport and POPs are among the top priorities of the GEF 5 strategies.
Transport is growing focus within the climate change focal area at the GEF. The GEF has supported 40 transport projects in 80 cities all over the world. GEF intervention on transport is effective and the average cost-effectiveness of GEF funding is around $4.3/t CO2.
To improve the quality of the projects, the GEF is now developing methodology to measure carbon benefits of transport projects. The GEF is also exchanging information and seeking opportunities for cooperation with new transport networks. Technology transfer is a major priority.
For GEF-5, investments in transport will be expanded and broadened, building on the past success and emerging experience, with more emphasis on programmatic approaches to achieve large-scale tangible results and GHG impact. The investment targets for transport and urban system for GEF 5 is set about $250 million investment, 20-30 cities low-carbon programs and $1.2 billion cofinancing. The GEF is going to have much more focus on transport in GEF 5 and that will provide great opportunities for developing countries to promote sustainable transportation.
GEF?s primary goal in the POPs focal area is to protect human health and the environment by helping countries to reduce and eliminate production, use, and releases of POPs, and thereby contribute generally to capacity development for the sound management of chemicals.
Since adoption of the Stockholm Convention in May 2001, the GEF has committed over US$ 450 million to projects in the POPs focal area and leveraged US$ 650 million in co financing, bringing the total value of the GEF POPs portfolio to well over US$ 1 billion.
For GEF-5, we will assist eligible countries to better integrate and coordinate POPs and sound chemical management for increased effectiveness. This will help promote management of chemicals throughout their lifecycle in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the global environment.
To support development of mercury agreement, GEF will engage in assessment type activities and case studies that enable mercury reduction.
With these commitments and strategies, the GEF is going to contribute to address transport and POPs agenda in significantly larger scale than the past to meet the expectations and trust given from the countries through the GEF 5 replenishment process. It is our duty and honor to deliver genuine global environmental benefits thorough implementing GEF 5 programs. We will continue to make our best efforts to address the most crucial challenges with the close cooperation of countries, GEF agencies and other key stakeholders.
We appreciate this opportunity to contribute to the CSD 18 dialogue.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is the largest public multi-lateral supporter of projects to improve the global environment. The GEF has supported more than 2,400 projects in more than 165 developing countries in 6 focal areas including climate change, POPs, biodiversity, international water, land degradation, and ozone depleting substances. These investments benefit the global environment, linking local, national, and global environmental challenges and promoting sustainable development.
The GEF serves as financial mechanisms for UNFCCC, CBD, Stockholm Convention, and other MEAs. GEF is assisting countries with economies in transition (CEITs) to implement activities to phase out Ozone
Depleting Substances in accordance with their obligations under the
Montreal Protocol.
Mr. Chairman,
The GEF operates in 4-year cycle and replenishes every 4 years. During the past 12 months, the donors have negotiated to reach an agreement on the level of the 5th replenishment of the GEF. Their decision is very important because it will determine our investments in the next 4 years. It is also crucial because it is an opportunity for the international community to demonstrate its real commitment to address sustainable development.
I proudly announce that donors agreed to a historic replenishment for GEF-5 yesterday. They have pledged 52% increase compared to
GEF-4. The overall replenishment is estimated to be $4.25 billion. The $ 4.25 billion pledged for the next 4 years is the largest ever increase in funding for the GEF since its establishment.
The GEF has been making significant reforms and improvements in its operation in the past few years. The GEF will continue to implement a package of policy and operational reforms including giving recipient countries greater ownership in investment opportunities during the GEF 5 period.
Mr. Chairman,
The GEF has six priority focal area but today I will address two topics, transport and chemicals, in particular, POPs.
Transport and POPs are among the top priorities of the GEF 5 strategies.
Transport is growing focus within the climate change focal area at the GEF. The GEF has supported 40 transport projects in 80 cities all over the world. GEF intervention on transport is effective and the average cost-effectiveness of GEF funding is around $4.3/t CO2.
To improve the quality of the projects, the GEF is now developing methodology to measure carbon benefits of transport projects. The GEF is also exchanging information and seeking opportunities for cooperation with new transport networks. Technology transfer is a major priority.
For GEF-5, investments in transport will be expanded and broadened, building on the past success and emerging experience, with more emphasis on programmatic approaches to achieve large-scale tangible results and GHG impact. The investment targets for transport and urban system for GEF 5 is set about $250 million investment, 20-30 cities low-carbon programs and $1.2 billion cofinancing. The GEF is going to have much more focus on transport in GEF 5 and that will provide great opportunities for developing countries to promote sustainable transportation.
GEF?s primary goal in the POPs focal area is to protect human health and the environment by helping countries to reduce and eliminate production, use, and releases of POPs, and thereby contribute generally to capacity development for the sound management of chemicals.
Since adoption of the Stockholm Convention in May 2001, the GEF has committed over US$ 450 million to projects in the POPs focal area and leveraged US$ 650 million in co financing, bringing the total value of the GEF POPs portfolio to well over US$ 1 billion.
For GEF-5, we will assist eligible countries to better integrate and coordinate POPs and sound chemical management for increased effectiveness. This will help promote management of chemicals throughout their lifecycle in ways that lead to the minimization of significant adverse effects on human health and the global environment.
To support development of mercury agreement, GEF will engage in assessment type activities and case studies that enable mercury reduction.
With these commitments and strategies, the GEF is going to contribute to address transport and POPs agenda in significantly larger scale than the past to meet the expectations and trust given from the countries through the GEF 5 replenishment process. It is our duty and honor to deliver genuine global environmental benefits thorough implementing GEF 5 programs. We will continue to make our best efforts to address the most crucial challenges with the close cooperation of countries, GEF agencies and other key stakeholders.
We appreciate this opportunity to contribute to the CSD 18 dialogue.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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