The Global Environment Facility has approved USD 52.8 million to support four new United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) projects addressing urgent environmental challenges, UNEP announced. The funding will help restore ecosystems, promote clean transport, protect oceans, and strengthen global climate transparency.
UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said the new investments show how global cooperation can turn ambition into real environmental progress.
“These projects will help countries protect their natural capital, reduce pollution and build resilience for communities on the frontlines of climate change,” she said.
In Madagascar, one project will invest USD 7.2 million in wetland restoration, safeguarding 655,000 hectares of critical ecosystems and reducing emissions by an estimated 41 million tonnes. A separate USD 2 million initiative will expand electric mobility to curb vehicle pollution. In Indonesia, a USD 9 million programme will strengthen marine governance over 1.4 million hectares and support a sustainable blue economy. Meanwhile, a global USD 34.6 million project will help 25 countries prepare and submit 50 national climate reports under the Paris Agreement, boosting climate transparency and accountability.
GEF CEO Carlos Manuel Rodríguez said these partnerships demonstrate “exactly the kind of integrated, high-impact initiatives we need—linking climate, nature, and pollution while delivering real benefits for people and ecosystems.”
Over three decades, the UNEP–GEF partnership has delivered more than 1,000 projects in 160 countries, helping prevent 77 million tonnes of emissions and restoring millions of hectares of land and marine habitats.
