Climate finance Global Environment Facility

    Logo: Global Environment Facility (GEF)

    The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was established in 1991 and is one the main multilateral funds for protecting the global environment. It serves as financing instrument for six United Nations environmental conventions and agreements, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

    The GEF is based on a partnership with 18 implementing organisations. The World Bank, UNDP and UNEP have been involved from the outset and have since been joined successively by 15 other organisations: ADB, AfDB, BOAD, CAF, Conservation International, DBSA, EBRD, FAO, FECO, FUNBIO, IDB, IFAD, IUCN, UNIDO and WWF. Other non-governmental organisations and national and bilateral implementing organisations are also engaged in implementing GEF projects.

    In the 8th replenishment period (July 2022 to June 2026), the GEF has available funding of 5.33 billion US dollars for new projects and programmes. With a contribution of 700 million euros, Germany is the largest donor for this replenishment period, followed by Japan, the US and Sweden. In the financial year 2022–2023, GEF-funded projects have helped to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 742.6 million tonnes and create or manage protected areas on a total area of 97.9 million hectares. Within the German government, the BMZ has the lead responsibility for the GEF and represents Germany on the GEF Council.

    The GEF finances global environmental protection measures in developing countries in the areas of:

    • Biodiversity
    • Climate change
    • Land degradation
    • International waters
    • Chemicals (protection of the ozone layer and protection against persistent organic pollutants)


    Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

    The Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) are managed by the GEF. Both funds were established in 2001 at COP 7.

    The initial purpose of the LDCF was to assist least developed countries (LDCs) in preparing their National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs). Since 2009, the Fund has supported concrete adaptation projects guided by National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).

    The SCCF focuses on adaptation, technology transfer and capacity building, with special attention being given to small island developing states (SIDS).

    Together, the LDCF and SCCF have deployed more than two billion US dollars in grants for more than 500 projects benefitting over 70 million vulnerable people. Furthermore, the two funds have contributed to improving the climate resilience of more than 16 million hectares of land.

    So far, Germany has provided 568 million euros from the BMZ budget for the LDCF and the SCCF.

    As at: 19/06/2024