The following information is being jointly released by the U.S. Department of State (US Department of the Treasury).
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The United States pledged $600.8 million over the next four-years to support the eighth replenishment to the Global Environment Facility (8th edition). This pledge is consistent with the United States’ ongoing priorities and supports the Biden Harris Administration’s commitment to addressing climate changes, conserving the global carbon sinks and other critical ecosystems, as well as restoring the health and wellbeing of the ocean. The United States joined 28 donors to pledge more than $5 billion collectively to support GEF-8. This represents a nearly 30% increase over GEF-7.
The U.S. pledge is intended to protect tropical rainforests and other crucial carbon sinks; address pollution from ocean plastics; combat wildlife trafficking; and reduce transboundary pollutants such PCBs or mercury that could affect Americans’ health. This is the first installment of four planned installments for the U.S. contribution at GEF-8.
The GEF is the largest dedicated funder of programs and projects to improve the global environment. The United States supported establishment of the GEF, and contributed to each of its seven replenishments. The GEF is the largest multilateral source of biodiversity financing in the world. It is the only multilateral environmental fund with a mandate to achieve global environmental benefits across a variety of areas. This includes chemicals and waste, climate mitigation, land degradation (including deforestation and desertification), and international waters. The GEF Partnership has 184 member governments, 18 implementation agencies, more 500 civil society organizations, international funds and funds, as well as businesses from every sector.
