The Councils of the family of funds managed by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), comprising the GEF Trust Fund, the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF), the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), approved work programs totaling approximately USD 372 million in support of climate action, biodiversity conservation, pollution prevention and reduction, and integrated environmental action across Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report highlights that the GEF Council approved a Work Program that will allocate USD 290.6 million to 30 projects and programs across 56 countries, including 21 small island developing States (SIDS) and 21 least developed countries (LDCs). These initiatives seek to tackle illegal fishing, strengthen island economies, reduce pollution, and incentivize the adoption of regenerative farming practices.

As the GEF prepares for its ninth replenishment cycle (GEF-9), the Council considered the Eighth Comprehensive Evaluation (OPS8) of the GEF. According to ENB,the Evaluation found that “the GEF delivers consistently strong results across global and country level interventions.” The OPS8 recommendations call for, inter alia, “deepening integration while reducing complexity, expanding and better leveraging private sector engagement, and pursuing higher-risk, high-reward innovation with appropriate safeguards and incentives, aligned with the GEF’s risk appetite framework.”

The LDCF/SCCF Council approved a Work Program of USD 52.26 million targeting climate change adaptation priorities in four LDCs, two of which are also SIDS, and in one non-LDC SIDS. The Work Program is expected to mobilize an additional USD 116.84 million in co-financing, including nearly USD 90 million from international financial institutions (IFIs). Four donors announced new pledges. Germany pledged EUR 10 million to the LDCF, Belgium pledged EUR 5.9 million to the LDCF, Ireland pledged EUR 3 million to the LDCF and EUR 2 million to the SCCF, and Sweden pledged SEK 130 million to the LDCF.

The GBFF Council’s new Work Program allocates USD 28.28 million to three projects in Colombia, Indonesia, and Madagascar, leveraging approximately USD 57.07 million in co-financing in support of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). “The Council [also] considered a draft resource mobilization strategy for the GBFF and established an Ad Hoc Working Group on Predictability in Financing to explore ways to enhance and strengthen predictability of contributions to the Fund,” ENB writes.

“Throughout the meetings, Council members and observers emphasized that scaling impact under future programming cycles will require not only increased resources but streamlined processes and stronger partnerships as well,” according to ENB.

On the last day of the meetings, the GEF Council announced the departure of GEF CEO and Chairperson Carlos Manuel Rodríguez and it would appoint a new CEO and Chairperson to lead the organization into GEF-9. The Council appointed Director of Strategy and Operations, Claude Gascon, as the GEF’s interim CEO.

The 70th meeting of the GEF Council, the 39th meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, and the fifth meeting of the GBFF Council convened virtually from 15-19 December 2025. A consultation among civil society organizations (CSOs) and the GEF Council took place on 12 December 2025. [ENB Coverage of 70th Meeting of the GEF Council]