GEF Welcomes COP16.2 Decision, Pledges to Strengthen Biodiversity Protection

 During the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16.2), Global Environment Facility (GEF) CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez issued a statement welcoming the decision reached in Rome and reaffirming GEF’s commitment to supporting global biodiversity goals.

Rodríguez stated that GEF is dedicated to meeting the needs of Parties and advancing global environmental commitments, including the 2030 biodiversity targets. The GEF Trust Fund and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) will continue providing financial and innovative solutions to address the biodiversity crisis. Since COP15, these two funds have supported more than 140 countries.

To better support capacity-building efforts, GEF has implemented a series of reforms within its Secretariat, as well as in its policies and processes. Rodríguez emphasized that GEF has been actively listening to the needs of CBD Parties and is committed to continuous improvements to meet expectations regarding funding access and capacity-building. The establishment of the GBFF is a testament to GEF’s swift response to COP decisions. As of December 2024, GBFF had allocated over $200 million to 40 projects across 41 countries. Furthermore, from June 2022 to December 2024, GEF funds approved $3.07 billion in project financing to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. These projects are expected to leverage more than $22 billion in co-financing, including $1.9 billion from the private sector.

Looking ahead, GEF will make every effort through its upcoming GEF-9 replenishment and GBFF implementation to mobilize and efficiently allocate new and additional resources in support of global biodiversity targets. Rodríguez underscored that GEF’s sustained investment will provide strong financial backing for biodiversity conservation worldwide and encourage greater participation from both governments and the private sector. The COP16.2 decision marks another important milestone in global environmental governance, and GEF, along with its partners, will continue to drive biodiversity protection toward greater efficiency and sustainability.