News release

June 27, 2018 – Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

Developing countries constantly face the destabilizing effects of climate change, with women and children facing disproportionate challenges. Collaboration and partnerships between governments, global institutions, non-governmental and local organizations, as well as the private sector are key to moving forward on climate action. Canada is committed to these efforts to empower the most at-risk communities to better adapt and mitigate the harmful impacts of a changing climate.

The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, today announced Canada’s pledge of $228.79 million (for fiscal years 2018–2019 through 2022–2023) to the seventh replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). Canada will reiterate its pledge at the Sixth GEF Assembly tomorrow in Vietnam.

Canada, through the GEF, works with partners to tackle global environmental issues and to support sustainable development, including poverty reduction and gender equality. The GEF is the single-largest source of funding and a catalyst for action on the environment. It funds programs that have brought sustainable land management, benefiting smallholder farmers; provided biodiversity protection and planning for productive terrains and water bodies; and have protected river and lake basins, groundwater basins and large marine ecosystems.

More specifically, since the GEF was established, the initiatives it funded have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2,700 megatons; introduced more than 50 climate-friendly technologies, leading to energy efficiency, renewable energy generation and sustainable urban transport; brought 103 million hectares of land under sustainable land management; and protected more than 50 water basins and 23 of the planet’s 64 large marine ecosystems. The GEF has also prioritized a stronger integration of gender equality and enhanced an engagement with the private sector to help ensure long-term project sustainability. This approach directly aligns with Canada’s Feminist International Assistance Policy, which emphasizes the importance of environmental and climate action to reduce extreme poverty, advance gender equality and empower women and girls.

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