GEF launches $3.9B fund for nature projects

June 14, 2026

Representatives from 186 countries have endorsed a new $3.9 billion funding package through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), reinforcing international efforts to tackle climate change, biodiversity decline, land degradation, and water security challenges. The investment will support environmental initiatives across 144 developing nations during the GEF's ninth funding cycle, spanning 2026 to 2030.

The agreement was finalized during the GEF Assembly held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where governments and international organizations gathered to establish priorities for the coming four years.

Major investment in global environmental action

The newly approved funding arrives as countries face increasing environmental pressures, including prolonged droughts, severe flooding, ecosystem degradation, and growing climate-related risks. The resources are intended to strengthen resilience while accelerating progress toward global sustainability targets.

Since its establishment in 1991, the Global Environment Facility has become one of the world's leading environmental financing mechanisms. It supports the implementation of major international agreements, including the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Today, the GEF oversees more than 2,300 active projects worldwide. Its current portfolio includes approximately $12.6 billion in ongoing financing and is expected to unlock an additional $80.5 billion through partnerships with governments, development institutions, and private investors. Over the past three decades, the organization has provided more than $27 billion in grants and helped mobilize roughly $155 billion in environmental investments globally.

Sustainable cities program demonstrates impact

One of the GEF's flagship initiatives is its Sustainable Cities Program, which has supported over 100 cities in 40 countries. Through strategic investments, the program helps municipalities improve urban planning, strengthen climate resilience, and enhance environmental management systems.

Experts from the World Bank highlighted the role of grant funding in attracting larger-scale investments from development banks and private-sector partners. Performance-based financing models, they noted, can encourage stronger outcomes while increasing the effectiveness of environmental programs.

Key funding priorities through 2030

The $3.9 billion package establishes a roadmap for GEF investments through the end of the decade. Funding will focus on several interconnected priorities, including:

• Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection
 •Climate change mitigation and adaptation
• Restoration of degraded landscapes
• Sustainable management of freshwater resources
• Protection of marine and coastal ecosystems
• Food system transformation and land-use sustainability

According to GEF officials, at least 35% of Trust Fund resources will be allocated to least developed countries and small island developing states, many of which face the greatest environmental vulnerabilities. Additionally, 20% of funding will be directed toward projects led by Indigenous peoples and local communities.

Faster access to environmental financing

A major feature of the GEF-9 cycle is a series of reforms designed to simplify funding procedures and reduce administrative barriers.

The organization aims to shorten project approval timelines, enabling countries and implementing agencies to access resources more rapidly and move from project design to execution with fewer delays.

The updated approach also promotes integrated solutions that address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously. Rather than treating climate, biodiversity, land degradation, agriculture, and water management as separate issues, future programs will emphasize coordinated strategies that deliver broader environmental and social benefits.

The GEF-9 funding cycle officially begins in July 2026 and will continue through 2030, a milestone year for several global environmental commitments. Initial projects are expected to receive support shortly after implementation begins.

Europe and Central Asia face growing environmental pressures

European countries remain among the largest contributors to the GEF, while many of the environmental issues targeted by the fund are becoming increasingly severe across the continent.

Rising adaptation costs, recurring floods, prolonged droughts, and accelerating biodiversity loss are placing mounting pressure on infrastructure, economies, and public finances throughout Europe and neighboring regions.

Climate experts attending the Assembly emphasized that regions already confronting severe environmental impacts can provide valuable lessons for policymakers worldwide.

Central Asia, in particular, is experiencing significant climate-related stress. Data presented during the event indicated that approximately 37 million people currently live in areas affected by severe water shortages. By 2050, that number could increase to 75 million as glaciers continue to shrink and river flows decline across the region.

Uzbekistan takes on a new leadership role

The 2026 GEF Assembly marked the first time the event has been hosted in Central Asia.

Addressing delegates, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev described ecological transformation as a central pillar of the country's future development strategy.

Having joined the GEF in 1995 as a beneficiary nation, Uzbekistan announced plans to become a donor in future funding rounds, signaling a significant shift in its role within the international environmental community.

UN officials praised the country's growing leadership in regional sustainability efforts and its commitment to supporting environmental initiatives beyond its borders.

Eco expo Central Asia highlights green innovation

Running alongside the Assembly, Eco Expo Central Asia attracted around 10,000 participants from more than 100 countries. The exhibition featured 68 national and international pavilions showcasing emerging environmental technologies, renewable energy solutions, sustainable business models, and innovative start-up projects.

The event demonstrated how international environmental financing can drive tangible results on the ground, supporting projects in areas such as water conservation, climate resilience, urban sustainability, renewable energy development, and environmental monitoring.

As governments prepare to implement the GEF-9 funding cycle, the newly approved investment package is expected to play a critical role in advancing global efforts to address climate change, protect biodiversity, and strengthen environmental resilience worldwide.