The Global Environment Facility (GEF) said five contributors pledged about $60.22 million to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund at COP17 in Yerevan, including the fund’s first city pledge, from Berlin.
The pledges were announced Oct. 26 during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known as COP17. A joint statement published by the GEF listed Germany, Iceland, Monaco, the province of Québec and Berlin.
Germany pledged an additional €50 million, and Québec pledged CAD 1.5 million. Iceland pledged ISK 160 million, Monaco €1.5 million and Berlin €50,000. The GEF said the dollar equivalents used exchange rates from Oct. 26. Berlin, Iceland and Monaco were first-time contributors; Germany and Québec renewed existing support.
Convention parties requested the fund, which the GEF launched at its Seventh Assembly in August 2023 to help implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As of Oct. 26, the GEF reported $362.1 million programmed across 82 projects in 87 countries; 47 of those countries are small island developing states or least developed countries. The GEF said its programmed portfolio assigned 32% to actions by Indigenous Peoples and local communities, 39% to support those country groups, and 30% through international financial institutions.
Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the CBD, said the pledges were “encouraging signs of growing support for biodiversity finance.”
The GBFF pledges are separate from the Global Environment Facility’s ninth replenishment (GEF-9), which covers July 2026 through June 2030. Spain pledged €50 million and Uzbekistan $4.5 million to GEF-9, while the United Kingdom reaffirmed its £330 million pledge, announced Sept. 24. The GEF put total commitments near $4.4 billion and said 70% of GEF-9 resources would support CBD objectives. Its replenishment overview separately lists a $3.9 billion programming level but does not explain how that figure relates to the commitment total.
The GEF said GBFF pledges are intended to help developing countries implement the biodiversity framework. COP17 is scheduled to end Oct. 30.
