Two cranes on snowy background with \"season's greetings\" text overlaid
Two cranes on snowy background with \"season's greetings\" text overlaid

Dear all,

I think we can all look back on 2015 with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.

The adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals in New York and the climate agreement in Paris were highlights in what we all hope will prove to be a pivotal year for the planet.

The SDGs and the Paris agreement recognize that the health of the global commons — the planet's finite environmental resources, from land and forests to oceans and the atmosphere — is essential for thriving world.

But recognition is not enough. It is now time for us to focus on actions on the ground so we can deliver on the promises of these historic agreements. This will require efforts on multiple fronts and at all levels of society. We need nothing less than a transformation of our major economic systems: energy – how we power our homes, offices, industry and transport; cities – how we live; and food production – how and where we produce food, and what we eat.

As we look forward to 2016 I believe that the GEF is uniquely placed to help catalyze the necessary action to curb the drivers of global environmental degradation.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your partnership, support and shared commitment for a fresh start for planet Earth. This, above all, is what makes me hopeful that we eventually will win the battle for the global environment.

Let's make it happen.

With my best wishes for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable 2016.

Naoko Ishii
CEO and Chairperson,
Global Environment Facility 

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