On Wednesday, 29 October 2014, the 47th meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council convened for a second day. The following Executive Secretaries of four conventions addressed the Council during the morning: Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); Rolph Payet, Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions; and Fatoumata Keita Ouane, Executive Secretary of the Interim Secretariat, Minamata Convention.

On the GEF’s role within the climate agenda, Figueres outlined three points. First, to continue investment in adaptation, demonstrating the different ways in which the GEF has successfully worked in the area and providing lessons learned to the rest of the financial world. Second, to assist in national policy integration of low carbon societies, to ensure that small island developing states (SIDS) and least developed countries (LDCs) are not left behind. Third, she encouraged the GEF to work hand-in-hand with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), sharing the GEF’s experience from the last 20 years. Dias discussed CBD COP decisions on: health and biodiversity; guidance on management of risks associated with invasive alien species; and marine biodiversity. He noted challenges in promoting synergies between biodiversity and sustainable development at the national level. Payet noted the GEF's role in helping Stockholm Convention parties to develop their National Implementation Plans (NIPs), but asked the GEF to consider ways to assist in the implementation of NIPs, particularly for LDCs and SIDS. He urged the GEF to take an active role in promoting an integrated, multi-stakeholder approach to the SDGs that includes chemicals and wastes, with strong, measurable targets and an emphasis on generating co-benefits. Ouane stressed the importance of synergies and the GEF’s role in promoting synergistic thinking and approaches, not just between Minamata and other chemicals and waste conventions, but also with the three Rio Conventions.

Additional agenda items discussed on the second day of the three-day meeting were: the Gender Equality Action Plan; progress report of the GEF Independent Evaluation Office Director; Work Program; the Country Support Programme implementation; and stocktaking of integrated approach pilots preparation. The Work Program, which consists of 15 project concepts and total resources equal to US$190.74 million, was adopted.

Images credit: GEF-IISD

GEF Resources

CSOs Consultation Provisional Agenda	47th GEF Council Meeting Documents
47th GEF Council Meeting Annotated Agenda	17th LDCF/SCCF Council Meeting Documents
17th LDCF/SCCF Council Meeting Annotated Agenda

IISD RS Resources

IISD RS coverage of the Forty-sixth meeting of the GEF Council, CSOs Forum, 16th meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, and 5th GEF Assembly, 25-30 May 2014, Cancún, Mexico

IISD RS coverage of the GEF consultation meeting with CSOs, 45th meeting of the GEF Council, and 15th meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 4-7 November 2013, World Bank headquarters, Washington, DC, United States of America

IISD RS coverage of the GEF Council Consultation meeting with CSOs, 44th meeting of the GEF Council, and 14th meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 17-20 June 2013, World Bank headquarters, Washington, DC, United States of America

IISD RS coverage of the GEF Council Consultation meeting with CSOs, 43rd meeting of the GEF Council, and 13th meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 13-15 November 2012, Washington, DC, United States of America

IISD RS coverage of the GEF Council Consultation meeting with CSOs, 42nd meeting of the GEF Council, and 12th meeting of the LDCF/SCCF Council, 5-7 June 2012, Washington, DC, United States of America

IISD RS coverage of the Forty-first meeting of the GEF Council, 7-10 November 2011, Washington, DC, United States of America

IISD RS coverage of the Fortieth meeting of the GEF Council, 24-26 May 2011, Washington, DC, United States of America

IISD RS coverage of the Fourth GEF Assembly, 24-28 May 2010, Punta del Este, Uruguay

IISD RS coverage of the Third GEF Assembly, 29-30 August 2006, Cape Town, South Africa

IISD RS coverage of the Second GEF Assembly, 16-18 October 2002, Beijing, China

IISD RS coverage of the First GEF Assembly, 1-3 April 1998, New Delhi, India

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