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The Marshall Islands is convening an entirely online Virtual Summit of the Climate Vulnerable Forum on 22 November 2018. Photo: Shutterstock.

First-ever Virtual Climate Summit to urge for greater action on global warming

The world’s first-ever Virtual Climate Summit will take place tomorrow, November 22, to renew political momentum in tackling climate change. Announcing the summit at the 6th GEF Assembly in Da Nang Hilda Heine, the President of the Marshall Islands and Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF)…
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Our Ocean Conference 2018 was held in Bali this week to further global action on maintaining the sustainability of our oceans. Photo: Wonderful Nature/Shutterstock.

From political will to financial commitments: six stories illustrate the Our Ocean 2018 Conference in action

Our actions today have never had a bigger impact on our future than they do now. Under this premise the Our Ocean Conference 2018 was held in Bali this week to further global action on maintaining the sustainability of our oceans. Millions of people depend on ocean for their lives and livelihoods.…
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The Impact Programs on Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration; Sustainable Cities; and Sustainable Forest Management collectively address key drivers of environmental degradation and offer the potential for the GEF to contribute to systemic change. Photo: Oliver S./Shutterstock.

Supporting innovation for transformation: GEF’s new Impact Programs to tackle the drivers of environmental degradation in an integrated way

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) faces a demanding yet seemingly attainable task: to help countries foster a transformation in how individuals, communities, and businesses use and protect the natural word. But nothing less will suffice if we are to meet pressing environmental challenges and…
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Zero Hunger world is within reach, but we must work together to achieve it

Today, on World Food Day, the global community is mobilizing to reach a Zero Hunger world. With a changing climate, inequality, and rapid population growth the challenges we face on the way seem insurmountable. However, with governments, private sector and individuals working together, we can…
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Burkina Faso is currently developing a strategy to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) based on improving land use planning, securing land rights, improving management of agro-sylvo-pastoral systems, and building capacity. Photo: CAD Productions.

Unlocking economic growth through integrated natural resource planning and governance

Burkina Faso, a landlocked country in the West African Sahel, includes sparse and dry forests, woodlands, wooded and shrub savannas, and a large desert area to the North. The country relies heavily on agriculture, yet faces shrinking arable land and increasing soil degradation. Enhancing factors…
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Bogota, Colombia from a distance. Photo: Shutterstock

The GEF is becoming a leading champion for sustainable cities, and that matters

This autumn, the IPCC will publish its much-awaited special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees centigrade. For the first time, the world will have a clear scientific view of the rate and scale of emissions reduction is required if we are to avoid runaway climate change. It is expected to set…
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Woman harvesting hydroponics celery. Photo: Wytsnsr/Shutterstock.

The results are in: five things we've learned about making progress toward environmental objectives while addressing gender equality

We know that advancing gender equality is one of the systems changes needed to achieve environmental gains – in fact, it is shown to be a driver of progress across many Sustainable Development Goals - but there is a lack of data and evidence about what works to succeed in this complex area. UNDP…
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African elephant herd drinking together at watering hole. Photo: Villiers Steyn/Shutterstock.

Ensuring a world where elephants aren't the next dinosaurs

On August 12, we celebrate World Elephant Day to raise awareness on the plight of the world’s elephant population. This is an important day for me, as the Program Manager of the Global Wildlife Program (GWP) that started two years ago to combat illegal wildlife trade across 19 countries in Asia and…
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The Civil Society Forum of the Global Environment Facility took place on June 26th, 2018, and opened with traditional Vietnamese performances. Photo: IISD/ENB/Sean Wu.

The role of civil society in transforming environmental systems

How did a chemical supplier in Mozambique learn that its safety instructions were putting women and children in danger? How could female clam harvesters in Tunisia come together to create the first women’s trade union and go onto change national law? These are just two of eighteen inspiring stories…
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Expedition truck with tourists viewing nearby elephants. Photo: THPStock/Shutterstock.

Leveraging PPPs in Mozambique to scale conservation and promote economic development

Over the last few decades, Public-Private-Partnerships (PPPs) have been used to build transportation, energy, telecommunications, and other infrastructure throughout the world. Value chains were established to foster growth in these sectors and significant experiences gained. A sector largely…

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