Enviro News Asia, Washington, D.C. — The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has approved USD 52.8 million in new funding for four projects led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to address critical global environmental challenges, including ecosystem restoration, clean mobility, ocean governance, and climate transparency.
The funding was announced during the 70th GEF Council meeting on 17 December 2025, one week after the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7), which convened more than 6,000 delegates from over 180 UN Member States.
According to GEF, the new investments are designed to deliver practical and scalable solutions that integrate climate action, biodiversity protection, and pollution reduction while strengthening resilience for vulnerable communities.
The approved portfolio includes a USD 7.2 million project to restore and sustainably manage wetlands and mangroves in Madagascar, a USD 2 million addendum to scale up electric mobility systems in the same country, and a USD 9 million initiative to enhance policy coherence for a sustainable blue economy in Indonesia. In addition, USD 34.6 million will support 25 countries in preparing Biennial Transparency Reports and combined National Communications under the Paris Agreement, strengthening global climate reporting and governance.
The projects aim to restore millions of hectares of terrestrial and marine ecosystems, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve institutional capacity, and support sustainable livelihoods across multiple regions.
GEF and UNEP stated that the new funding builds on more than three decades of collaboration that has supported environmental action in over 160 countries. The partnership has delivered more than 1,000 projects worldwide, contributing to emissions reductions, ecosystem restoration, and improved environmental governance.
The announcement also comes ahead of the GEF-9 replenishment process scheduled for 2026, which is expected to play a key role in scaling integrated solutions linking climate, nature, and pollution action. (*)
