Canada and the Global Environment Facility

Canada is a founding members of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), its creation provided the financial means for developing countries to take action on biodiversity, climate change, pollution, ocean health, and the ozone layer.

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Our support

Canada has been a strong supporter of the GEF since its creation and is one of the GEF’s top donors. Projects funded by the GEF align closely with Canada's international development priorities. For example:

• The GEF is a catalyst for climate change action, including investments in energy-efficient technologies, greenhouse gas emissions reduction and climate resilience, which in turn support local economic development opportunities.
• The GEF supports food security through investments in water management, biodiversity conservation, land degradation, and deforestation prevention.
• The GEF's focuses on a healthy environment that contains fewer persistent organic pollutants and ozone-depleting substances which is critical for the well-being of citizens including women and youth.

Canada also supports other trust funds managed by the GEF including the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF). In 2022, Canada provided $37.5 million to the LDCF to address the urgent adaptation needs among the poorest and most vulnerable countries.

Achievements

With the support of Canada and other donors, the GEF has successfully produced the following results:

• Creation of over 3,860 protected areas (2.3 billion acres).
• Conservation-friendly management of more than 1.3 billion acres of productive landscapes and seascapes.
• Sustainable management of 61 of the world’s major river basins.
• Improved cooperation and governance of more than one-third of the world’s large marine ecosystems.
• The sound management and disposal of 235,000 tons of highly toxic Persistent Organic Pollutants.

News

List of official Government of Canada news releases, statements and media advisories related to the Global Environment Facility.

All news

Related links

• Canada's international climate finance
• Supporting environmental sustainability in developing countries