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![]() 9 FEBRUARY 2010 | The direct-use value of biodiversity often goes overlooked when evaluating the importance of biodiversity. However, farmers in Georgia know better. With support from the GEF project, “Recovery, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Georgia’s Agrobiodiversity”, implemented by UNDP and executed by a local biological farming association, Elkana, Georgian farmers are reclaiming forgotten crop varieties and landraces while they diversify their agricultural production. 26 JANUARY 2010 | Protected areas have long been the cornerstone of conservation efforts throughout the world and the GEF has been a major investor in protected areas since its inception. The global community’s achievement of protecting 10% of the earth’s terrestrial surface area within protected areas is arguably the signature accomplishment of the Convention of Biological Diversity. However, creating and demarcating protected areas is the easy part. All countries are challenged to find creative ways to finance the management and administration of protected areas in order that these crown jewels of conservation can actually meet their conservation objectives. In Namibia, the GEF is funding a protected area project (Catalyzing Sustainability of Protected Area Systems: Strengthening the Protected Area Network (SPAN), www.span.org.na) implemented by UNDP and executed by the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism that is addressing this issue head-on, and early signs from the project are encouraging. 20 JANUARY2010 | Washington, DC—In concert with sister agencies, the
Global Environment Facility has approved an emergency project to help
restore power lost from the Port au Prince earthquake and assist relief
workers as they look to supply critical medical needs to survivors.The
$3 million effort, co-financed with matching grants from the
Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank Group, will use
energy from the sun to produce clean electricity for medical centers,
vaccine refrigeration, and other critical relief efforts. Hand-cranked
lanterns will also be distributed in refugee camps and residential
areas that are in the dark a week after a 7.0 magnitude temblor
destroyed most of the electricity grid and local power plants. The Benazir Housing Project in Pakistan was invited to present at the Climate Change and Environment Panel of the Global South-South Development Expo-GSSD 2009 held on this week at the Preston Auditorium of the World Bank.The motto of the Global South-South Development Expo is Solutions, Solutions, Solutions. 14 DECEMBER 2009 -Copenhagen, Denmark – Ministers from the Solomon Islands and Indonesia - on behalf of the Coral Triangle countries - today called on world leaders to recognize and act upon the threat climate change poses to marine environments, particularly the adverse impacts on coral reefs, fisheries and food security. GEF has committed up to $63 million to support a program of action under the Coral Triangle Initiative. 10 DECEMBER 2009 | Copenhagen --The world’s largest public environment
fund, the Global Environment Facility (GEF) is joining with the IFC, a
member of the World Bank Group, and Standard & Poor’s to launch the
world’s first carbon efficient index for emerging markets. The partners
predict their efforts could mobilize more than $1 billion for
carbon-efficient companies over the next three years. 9 DECEMBER 2009 | Copenhagen: Government
officials from developing countries share their stories and experiences
with the Least Developed Country Fund (LDCF) during a press event
(see link below) at the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The
world's largest public environment fund updated international climate
change delegates on recent and future projects associated with
adaptation, specifically In Bhutan, Samoa and Burkina Faso. 7 DECEMBER 2009 | Copenhagen – CEO Opening remarks before Subsidiary Body on Implementation CEO highlight reforms and road ahead - 08 DECEMBER 2009 - Copenhagen, – As the global community meets to
negotiate a political climate change framework for the post-2012 era, a
key future consideration will be leveraging potential.
For nearly two decades, the GEF has been the primary grant financing
mechanism for actions under the UNFCCC, actively supporting investments
in climate change mitigation and adaptation. 7 DECEMBER 2009 | Copenhagen – As the climate talks
kick off in Copenhagen, key football nations are teaming up for the
planet for the biggest sport event of 2010. More than half of the countries that have qualified for the 2010
FIFA World Cup have committed or pledged to offset the emissions of
their teams’ and officials’ flights to South Africa for the competition. 2 DECEMBER 2009 | Washington, DC -Two new GEF videos show case the
innovative and inspiring ways local communities are working to mitigate
and adapt to climate change.
High in the Himalayas, the people of Bhutan race against time to drain
Thotomi Glacier Lake, which threatens to rupture in a tidal wave that
would obliterate downstream villages.
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