Dr. Naoko Ishii announces initiative at UNFCCC COP18 to hold series of discussions as part of GEF2020 strategic review
DOHA, Qatar, Dec. 6, 2012 – Naoko Ishii, CEO of the Global Environment Facility, announced today that she will lead a Forum on Innovation and Partnership as part of her “GEF2020” strategy exercise aimed at positioning the GEF to address growing environmental threats on a global scale.
Structured as a series of high-level dialogues, the forum seeks to foster thought-provoking discussion of the dynamics of strategic partnerships involving the public and private sectors and the ways they can be used to encourage and bring about innovation and technology transfer. The ultimate goal is to identify more effective use of partnerships to foster environmental strategies that can deliver benefits with global impact.
Dr. Ishii announced the series of forums following several consultations with senior private-sector representatives as part of her participation in the 18th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP18) meeting this week in Doha. The Forums are among the supporting steps in preparation for the GEF’s long-term strategy exercise — GEF2020 — which Dr. Ishii has initiated in the first months of her tenure as GEF CEO.
“Innovation and partnership are vital if we are to have any chance of having a transformational impact on the deeply worrying trends in the global environment,” Dr. Ishii said. “Business as usual will not be good enough. Strong collective action will be needed. A clear view on how we can foster innovation and strengthen partnerships for scaling up will be critical for how effectively the GEF — and the rest of the global community — can tackle global environmental challenges in the coming decade.”
The five planned dialogues, engaging institutions both public and private, will focus on the following themes:
- Innovation to foster innovation: exploring the use of information and communication technology (ICT) to spur innovative approaches to addressing environmental challenges.
- “South-South/North-South Cooperation and Foreign Direct Investments,” examining how cooperation among developing countries and between developing countries and developed countries (including GEF support) can spur private-sector investment for climate technology transfer.
- “Cities” will explore both challenges and opportunities to improve resource efficiency and sustainable consumption in cities. Urban centers emit the bulk of the world’s CO2 but also are centers for innovation and new technology in energy efficiency, clean transportation and other sectors. Significant urban growth worldwide presents an opportunity to introduce innovative yet practical local action for global sustainability.
- “Sustainable Islands” will involve discussion with partners about how islands have been moving toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy that encompasses energy, transport, food security, and water resource management, among other challenges.
- An “Open Dialogue on Partnerships” will entail discussion of what types of partnerships to promote innovation and technology transfer are most desirable from the perspectives of partners.
The fora are a part of the Poznan Strategic Program on Technology Transfer, established in 2008 as a special initiative of the GEF.
In high-level meetings this week at the UNFCCC COP18, Dr. Ishii has been briefing senior officials representing governments, international institutions, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector on her GEF2020 strategy. A fact sheet outlining her initiatives is attached.
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John Diamond
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Global Environment Facility
GEF Fact Sheet on CEO Initiatives
DOHA, Qatar, Dec. 6, 2012 – Following is a summary of key points about the Global Environment Facility and initiatives of Dr. Naoko Ishii, who became the fourth CEO and Chairperson of the GEF on August 1st, 2012.
About the GEF: The Global Environment Facility unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment, providing $10.5 billion in grants and leveraging $51 billion in co-financing for over 2,700 projects in over 165 countries. For more information, visit www.thegef.org.
GEF CEO: Dr. Naoko Ishii was unanimously selected CEO by the GEF Council in June 2012 and took office August 1st. Previously, Dr. Ishii was Deputy Vice Minister of Finance of the Government of Japan. For about half of her career, Dr. Ishii has served international institutions, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in senior positions in the field and at headquarters. For more information, visit /gef/GEF_CEO.
Key GEF CEO Initiatives:
Vision Statement. Shortly after taking office, Dr. Ishii issued her Vision Statement on the role of the GEF going forward. It lays out her call for “bolder and more imaginative solutions” to intensifying global environmental challenges, and vision of the GEF as the “partner of choice” for programs delivering global environmental benefits and as a “champion of the global commons.” For more information, visit /sites/default/files/publication/GEF-vision-Ishii.pdf.
GEF2020 Strategy. At the Convention on Biological Diversity COP11 in Hyderabad, India, Dr. Ishii announced the launch of a GEF2020 strategy exercise. It will examine the full range of activity of the GEF and culminate in a blueprint for 2020 and beyond that will position the GEF to scale up its programs for global environmental impact. For more information, visit /gef/news/gef-launches-2020-strategy-effort-focus-long-term-environmental-goals.
Forum on Innovation and Partnership. At the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP18, Dr. Ishii is announcing the creation of a Forum on Innovation and Partnership. The forum will entail the convening of four or five high-level meetings at locations around the world where international institutions, governments, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector will discuss a range of topics including innovation in information and communication technology to address climate challenges, South-South and North-South to facilitate private-sector investment, cities, sustainable islands, and new types of partnerships.
About the Global Environment Facility
The GEF unites 182 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.
Since 1991, the GEF has achieved a strong track record with developing countries and countries with economies in transition, providing $10.5 billion in grants and leveraging $51 billion in co-financing for over 2,700 projects in over 165 countries. Through its Small Grants Programme (SGP), the GEF has also made more than 14,000 small grants directly to civil society and community based organizations, totaling $634 million. For more information, visitwww.thegef.org.
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